Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Saturday May 31 2008
Time: 12:44PM
UK time is: 18:30:06
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Villa Summer Transfer Thread - Part 2
Oh no! 350 comments in on this thread (time to change as we limit comments to 350 for speed issues) and the rumours thread in our forum Click Here is already at 27 pages in length!
Trouble is, at the moment, all the rumours and talk are exactly that, just rumours and talk!
The Villa Summer Transfer Thread - Part 1
Lets hope, by the end of this Villa Summer Transfer Thread - Part 2, we'll be talking about the arrivals not the possibles!
We live in hope...
To be fair the international friendlies plus player holidays will have held things up slightly, so maybe the next few weeks will see more activity from all the clubs.
Once again, over to you Mr O'Neill !
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Your Comments
Brum mail reckons Sidwell is a done deal but we have to wait for Chelsea to get a new manager before announcing. Also Aaron Lennon and Tom Huddlestone are still targets.
The Fear
One thread down, nobody in yet. We're winning the race so far!
evoflash
Sod Lennon get Kieron Richardson, the boy's a hardworker who's experienced top and bottom in football, very good work ethic and wicked shot on him. Tie up Kitson quick. The move on to Shorey, put in a massive bid for Mort Gamst Pedersen and Bentley and see which one comes, both quality and if Chelsea tap up Hughes he won't mind letting them go either!!!!
koolbill
Good call i would swap richardson for maloney any day.
british84
sorry dont agree, richardson didnt impress me once playing for sunderland, we need to be aiming much higher than that to improve.
Eircol
richardson is class, he kept the baggies up and shone, ahd a few injuries this season.....milner i'm unsure about....lennon, no thanks mr one-trick pony.
koolbill
Not sure about lennon either, but he does remind me of young when he was playing for watford, i think if he got a run of games and coached well, he could become as good?
Eircol
lennon and hudd not for sale lads so dont worry. You can take Chim$onda though
HuddersfieldYiddo
tick tock tick tock
Stig
I don't see what is so good with Richardson, only played for England because he was at United. Milner is a much better player in my opinion. I don't understand why the Sidwell deal hasn't gone through, we all know Abramovich makes all the decisions at Chelsea.
notthedougellisstand
Lennon and huddleston wud be v good aquisitions as wud richardson, it will be a happy day when we finally sign sum1!! its annoying for soo long now all through the DOL era constantly moanin about the small squad, MON has stated the importance of adding quality but its not happened, im v impatient and wanna see somthing happen!
mattyh1986
bloody hell stig, don't do that mate, I thought there was a time bomb on my computer for a minute. Phew!
The Fear
Must admit I'd be surprised to see either leave Huddersfield Yiddo. I think Chimbonda wouldn't be a bad buy actually, seems a bit of a plonker but he can defend!
The Fear
Well at least Chimbonda's a right back - which would be 1 more than we have at the moment.
The Usual Suspect
Looks like Dunne is off to Spuds or Pompy....what a miss that would be! Would be a perfect partner for Laursen and can also play right back! What are we doing in this window!?!?!?! I'm soooooooooo frustrated and it's only just started!
In MON we trust!
Henry, SWP, Sidwell will all do for me
kentvilla
Henry won't happen, SWP i think is over-rated but Sidwell I can see doing well for us.
The Usual Suspect
I don't like Chimbonda he's a mercenary like Anelka! Would have him at a push tho but we need to sign up Sidwell and Shorey (i said kitson earlier but that was a mistype, the ginner tw@ is banned from driving for Drink Drive so not what we want), get back to Derby for Giles Barnes and then sort Richardson or Milner along with Darren Bent or Dean Ashton...Guzan is a cert as after two more Friendlies he's clear for a permit...I feel a 'who the ***** is this guy' coming on and MON surprising us with a nobody signing from Holland or France....Anybody else laughed that Flamini's has been left out of France squad - money grabbing tit. Also, throw in a bid for Steve Finnan as a squad player - loads of ability and experience at 32 years....better than Carr!!!!!!!!
koolbill
It dont matter who he signs MON seems to bring out the best in players, bring in a one legged, left footed blind man and MON would have him in the next England team.
col8
Now that I'd like to see, you can imagine the opposition tactics talk pre game. "Now that left winger, good on the dribble but no right foot"...
As for transfers, I agree that Sidwell is probably a done deal, but the changes at Chelsea are probably slowing that one down. Beyond that, MON keeps everything so quiet it's so hard to tell! Any young brits are always a target I guess...Ramsay and Barnes I'd guess are possible....I can't understand why we don't appear to be more interested in Dunne, he looks solid.
Chimbonda does seem like a bit of a muppet...I think MON will come through in the end...he kind of has to as we barely have a squad left!! Give it time it's still only just about to drop into June!
Villa4Europe
So long as when we do get around to signing a player its worth waiting for. I would like to see a late bid for Dunne! Capturing this type of quality is what GB would like to see. We need quality signings where we have gaps, then look at squad players. Why do we have to wait when other clubs are making signings and bids. We must surely get these new signings settled in quickly when they do come as we are supposed to be taking the INTERTOTO seriously as a way into europe, aren't we? High profile players will want european football and we must make sure we dont fall at the first hurdle to the so called minnows. Koolbill, I like Finnan too. Good squad player with lots of experience. Ashton looks to be over his injuries now and the type of homegrown quality we need. Anton Ferdinand anyone? Wetspam looking to offload him and I can see MON turning him into a better prospect than his chump of a brother. Whatever we need to be signing someone but not anyone and very quickly.
holte ender 1969
Sidwell was apparently a "done deal" weeks ago but we couldn't complete until after the CL Final. Now it's because Chelsea haven't got a manager. Same old, same old...
Saurat
HE1969: definitely Finnan and Dunnne and a bid for Anton Ferdinand, he is young, athletic and quite good, would need to settle in and not act the big man tho....could he do that? Ashton would be cool, we don't really have a striker who smashed one in or gets one on target from outside the penalty area do we? Ashton or Darren Bent is that type of a striker....Hurry up Sidwell! Shorey! Guzan! One thing we defnitely need to do is teach Nigel RC how to deliver a sliderule pass or an end ball - he's useless unless passing sideways, reminds me of that guy who used to be in MF for Blackburn, Batty was it?
koolbill
Kirkland, Jussi, Sidwell, Dunne, Ramsey, Barnes, A Ferdinand, Finnan, Ashton, Owen, A Smith (although not sure on attitude for MON). As I'm living in NZ I'm not sure of these guys form and fitness etc etc, but some good shouts I think. Owen is a long shot and quality but MON likes his youngsters and so therefore Ashton would do nicely for me. As for Terry Henry, well we can have a dream but this aint happening. (1) we cant afford him (2) he's a gooner thru and thru (3) champions league football required and (4) players of this magnitude just dont want to play for the VILLA. This is sad but true. C'mon MON show us oyur hand and splash what cash we have. People over here (New Zealand) only know of the usual suspects when it comes to soccer (that p*@*@ me off too!). Manwho and Chelski. Put us on the map MON and give us a winning team who are up there and make me proud and stand tall amonst these chimps and egg chasers. OMG I'm so sick of highlights and miss my sky. I'm not a celebrity but get me out of here.
holte ender 1969
Definitely wouldn't touch Owen or Smith - Smith has lost whatever he had...Owens heart wouldn't be in it for us if truth be told....I like Kirkland but feel he could be the lead with Guzan backing up....Smith is like Bellamy but without the pace and slightly taller. Barnes and Ramsey for the future and Sidwell for the present.
koolbill
Sorry for hogging it everyone but you are 11 hrs behind and I have no one to talk to....................
By the way J P Fear CONGRATS on the award.
holte ender 1969
I lived in Ohakune in the north island for the last two summers (not this year though)...so I know exactly how you feel haha. I was always wondering around Villa websites trying to see what was going on! It's June...I think we could make a signing this month..what do you reckon?? haha.
Villa4Europe
I can't see Anton Ferdinand being made better than Rio, who for me, is the best centre half in the world at the moment. He might behave like an idiot off the pitch but he never gave us a sniff of a goal in the 3 games this season. If anyone is gonna get anywhere near Rio then it would be Curtis Davies, similar qualities but has his head screwed on. Gabby stated recently that Rio is on another level, saying that during the games he was just as quick as him and impossible to get away from. Ideally i'd go for Micah Richards but he's probably big 4 bound. The Greek lad thats been banded about seems pretty solid and i'm trying to buy him on FM now.
MOGVILLA
Micah is a Bham City Supporter and won't come to us. Anton would be a very decent buy.
koolbill
milner or lennon, hudlestone, dunne would all be very good signings. I am still interested to see what happens with right back though. What ever happend to Miguel ???????????????
Stig
Anton???? We don't need anymore Westaaaaam rejects and especially not this one. Didn't he do that stupid Solja bouy dance with Nige and I don't think he would have ever played in the prem if Rio wasn't his big bro. Average conference player.
Villan444
I want Routledge and Salifou to get there chance but still think we need more cover down the right, after Routledge going to spurs as the next wonderkid then losing that title so quick to Lennon I fear that if Lennon now came to Villa and took any chance of Routledge getting the right midfield spot to Lennon again it might destroy him and I cant see SWP coming to Villa so I say go for Milner but we must also remember we still have Shaun and I still think if he got his chance could still be a very good right midfielder for us.
Tallaght Villan
So Capello leaves Young and Gabby out of the starting line-up and goes with Defoe and Downing!!!??? Furthermore, he goes with Barry and Gerrard in the middle - lets just hope they have a nightmare and make Rafa have second thoughts!!! Either that or Barry plays SO well that it attracts Wenger and others to go for him and bid £20m. I really would be gutted if he left but even more so if it was to the Dirty Scouse!!! On that note, with Arsenal losing Flamini and possibly Hleb and him not fancying Gilberto Silva why hasnt he wanted to go for Barry - surely he would be ideal!!! Honestly - I would be happy with that but I dont want us to be bullied into selling the guy to 'Pool.
deano.avfc
Micah Richards supports Arsenal not Blues, he was born in Brum, his family are still in Brum, but a bluenose he aint. I just cant see Lennon coming, not with those eyebrows!!!
MOGVILLA
Would Lennon give any thing different to what we have in Gabby? Lennons final ball is poor. Bit then again Villa can teach him how to cross! I would definatley sign Huddlestone though!
Villa-in-my-Blood
Villa4europe, yeah Ohakune is north of us. We have only been here in NZ for 8mths and so miss the UK coverage of SOCCER. Mogvilla I see your point but I thought as a squad player anyway. Mertsacker, is he a centre half and is he available? Hart in place of James in goal for England what about him from the Citeh? If GB were to go to the Gooners I would like to see us get Walcott plus some cash. If our captain leaves at all please please do not go to scouseland. Jagielka, didn't we try to get him from Sheff Utd a couple of years ago. Anyway guys keep the thread going as its my only form of keeping in touch with the VILLA.
holte ender 1969
havent you been linked with maradonna or pele yet
mick66owl
It's all very well to suggest that Baz goes to the lesser of the evils with Arsenal, but if he's got his heart set on Liverpool at all, it'd be because of Gezza. I think they would make a good partnership, sure, but how often is it going to be seen, he's going to be chopped and changed far too often for his good. I've been trying to put myself in his shoes, and whilst Villa are progressing, i can't see Champions League football, and certainly not Champs league football that we will be competitive in, for many a year. I think if Barry wants to play amongst the best, he will have to move...and he is now in his prime to challenge the best, so perhaps he has to move. It is a very hard decision to make, unless you are us, as we are all villa fans. It's like suggesting Gerrard to leave Liverpool, it'd be bloody difficult for him to do so. But Gaz isn't a Villa fan, so to him we are just a club. I can only see him leaving, and in truth, from his perspective, i'd do the same. It's all well and good saying he'll get more playing time here, and we are progressing as a team and he should repay MON for kickstarting his career, but as a player you only get a short time to play for the best teams. Good luck to you Baz. But it would be nice if you didn't go to the scouse scum.
AstonMartinOneill
a dumb little birdy just told me SWP and Sidwell are coming for 12million.
leftfoot
the other one says Baraja from Valencia.
leftfoot
In The Times today, not quite sure what it is proving really! Just something about our new high expectations: Times: Aston Villa Great expectations Thierry Henry may get more of a regular game at Villa Park than at the Nou Camp. Joe Hart, Wayne Hennessey, Carlo Cudicini, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Ben Foster - and that's just the goalkeepers. Reality check Steve Sidwell and Shaun Wright-Phillips could be enticed from Chelsea and James Milner could return from Newcastle United. If Foster is not available on loan from Manchester United, Brad Guzan, the United States goalkeeper, is still a target. Villa's new right back may be Giourkas Seitaridis, of Atlético Madrid, or Hugo Campagnaro, of Sampdoria. Tom Huddlestone and Aaron Lennon, of Tottenham Hotspur, Habib Habibou, of Charleroi, and Peter Crouch, John Arne Riise and Jermaine Pennant, of Liverpool, are also targets. On their way out Marlon Harewood is wanted by Stoke City and Fulham while Shaun Maloney could join Sunderland. Olof Mellberg has left for Juventus and Patrik Berger has rejoined Sparta Prague. Gareth Barry?
The Fear
i think it is good they haven't mentioned GB, its become a bit boring if you get my drift.
leftfoot
Now's the time to get in and try and land Mort GP and Bentley! Also, Dunne from City with a cheeky bid for Elano and Petrov. Elano would really compliment Barry in MF and Petrov would allow Young to do the free role and they could swap from left, right to inside left during games with Barry holding and feeding through/running onto quality passes. I know it's a big ask but there isn't a player listed above who wouldn't immensley improve our squad...Bentley because of his ego may be the only one who wouldn't come but for Christs sake if he looks at GBs rise in the England team it must be Villa!!!! He could be the perfect guy to become our Villa hero if GB leaves, he's got the ego to do it that's for sure!!!! Combine this with a nice quality signing of Shorey and we would look a mighty team. Come on MON!
koolbill
Seb Larsson from the mighty Birmingham City Football Club. The guy is quality, the type of player we both want and need. Come on Mart - get that cheque book out, and get on the blower to 'The Big Eck'.
glensider
boring news today, eh? Oh, I was just talking to my friend who used to work for Randy Lerner. Apparently he owns a restaurant in NY where they used to work and said he was the absolute nicest guy in the world. He'd wear a white tee shirt and boots to work and drove a truck. Thought that was funny.
los_angeles_villan
He strikes me as a friendly guy...just gives off a good vibe! As much as Seb Larsson is a decent player he has been playing for birmingham...I wouldn't be too fussed either way, also I can't say I've seen enough of him to make a judgement, but I'd imagine a fair few fans would be irritated to see a blues player come over.
Villa4Europe
let's see how he does in the Euro Cup.
los_angeles_villan
No no no, we do not want any blue scumbags thankyou. Lets aim bloody higher than that please. C'mon MON prove us wrong and come up trumps with some great signings and not too late this time please. Has the Dunne deal at pompey gone through yet? If not then let's highjack that one.
holte ender 1969
I think the Sidwell deal would already have been done but for the fact that Chelsea sacked Grant and are now using common sence for the first time in about 5 years by hanging on to the player untill a new manager looks at him, Grant was selling and the deal was done, just a bad time for the manager to change.
Tallaght Villan
That's balls, nothing's happened with Sidwell, though it should have. I doubt we've made any contact at all. We need signings and quick: If we make the signings Barry will stay and if he doesn't then we can use the extra cash to replace him....if we string it out then we'll have a disjointed team with only a few weeks to get used to being without him and that slow down our progress massively. We must strike early. Does anyone think Elano would not improve us, along with Petrov? Bringing in Dunne, Shorey and D Bent or Ashton would make massive ripples! Not forgetting Sidwell and Guzan.
koolbill
I had a dream last night that we signed Richard Dunne (not sure we should).....................and.................................................................. Teddy Sheringham. Guess that crystal ball is broken then!
evoflash
teddy LOL that wud be quality signing hehe, every day i wake up expecting sumthing to have happened and every morning im disapointed :-( its horrible.
mattyh1986
GARETH PLEASE STAY! PLEASE! BE A HERO
mattyh1986
I'm afraid barry will be off, all we can do now is try and get as much dosh as possible,
Eircol
18 million sounds about right?
Eircol
Villa bid accepted for ramsey along with united, Oneill already spoken with parents, who would prefer villa over united?
Eircol
Eircol, where did you hear about Villa having a bid accepted for ramsey? reports say its Manchester United and Arsenal, however a third team has bid for him which wasnt accepted
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
I cannot say but it did come from the club, the sticking point is united are prepared to loan him back to cardiff for next season, villa are not prepared to do that after forking out 4.5 million
Eircol
the other part of close season that fuels the fires of speculation is that of next seasons kit - have a look at this link, bear in mind the acorn support was only announced in the last 24 hours. it doesn't take them long !!
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/8618/villapw6.png
bobbyfett
That image has been doing the rounds for a while...after Bill Howell got the Acorns story a while back. It's a nice kit...I hope for better, and am building up to be dissappointed. I know we shouldn't really be worrying about signings now, what with only 5 clubs actually doing business yet, but we will be playing competetive football before anyone else probably, so we need our team to be ready before anyone else...and we're currently a long way down on what we had last year. It makes you wonder if MON has actually got this into his head, because he continually peddles out the same quotes about getting people in. It does begin to grate in the 5th transfer window.
AstonMartinOneill
What about Alex Manninger for goalkeeper
Pking
Players will be coming in, I dont see other clubs bringing in loads of players yet so no panic.
col8
alex manninger! is he still playing? id be much happier with kirkland or guzan. comon villa sign some one! Newsnow has burnt its image on my screen!
Villa-in-my-Blood
can't lose barry for less than carrick or hargreaves went for. i still think there is a chance he will stay but otherwise i'd settle for no less than 20mil.
ric112
I'm bored - let's talk Euros!!! Seeing as how you lot aren't in it, who will you all be cheering for? I'm from Sweden and will give my heart and soul to Sverige. That said, I also have fancied the Oranje Voethal throughout my years, and we happen to supply them with none other than the Wilf Bouma. Any thoughts???
los_angeles_villan
LAVillan: Is it true Giles Barnes and Maceo Rigters are the love-childs of the same man?
koolbill
I will be supporting any team in which a Villa player is in on any particular day. If two teams happen to play each other with two Villa players in, I can't lose! I also support the team of 'no injuries to Martin Laursen'
Villa4Europe
i'll be doing exactly the same villa4europe, i will however be keeping an eye on spain as they are an equivalent to england, great players, but wont get anywhere! summer wouldn't be the same withoput the dissapointment of being knoocked out on penalties in the quarter final!
bobbyfett
Laursen is Danish - they did not qualify - our sole representative at Euro 2008 is Wilfred Bouma (Holland). Thats it!! Unless you consider Mellberg as still a Villa player until he PLAYS for Juventus!!!
deano.avfc
Absolutely Deano.... Melly is still a Villa player until i see him in a juve shirt!! hahaha
nottinghamvillain
steve sidwell is a done deal. first signing of the summer.
villabikes29
villabikes29 how do you know? it was a done deal 2 weeks ago??
Villa-in-my-Blood
the future of sidwell at chelsea should be cleared up when the new manager arrives at chelsea, SSN did say that Kenyon said he hopes to have a new manager in place sometime mid june, cannot remember the exact date though.
does anyone know if brad guzan plays in the final USA game against argentina if he will be certain of a work permit? whats the deal behind recieving a work permit - does he have to play in a certain number of games? he has made another appearance against Spain so M'ON is surely aware of this and will try again.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
damien duff and wayne bridge anybody i no we got bouma but it would be good competition, but at the moment i would be happy with anybody lol aslong as we get some1, we were the smallest squad last season and have already released like 5 players and tlkin about selling players e.g harewood, malony, BARRY.. and if barry does go i hope next season liverpool will be in the intoto cup and were in the champions league barry will be beggin 4 us to take him back lol
Blitz
Why don't we swap Barry for Alonso if he wants to go to the scouse so badly? A take it or leave it deal, no ifs ands or buts.
los_angeles_villan
i cant believe liverpool are selling alonso to get barry. i dont care what you say , alonso is better than barry. comical liverpool.
Stig
Seen a couple of reports this morning linking us with Brad Friedel. Good keeper and with Guzan as an understudy, i think it could work out quite well.
steako
Rather we got MGP or Bentley,with Warnock as a surprise accompliment! I'll say it again; get Shorey and Sidwell quick before hughes starts weighing in with Shinawatras blood money! Trust me, it's gonna happen...
koolbill
alonso or barry? i would have barry,, Alonso has an awful fitness record and has never really been one of those players that can turn a match around for a team and pull all the strings single handedly! the only thing he has ahead of barry is the ability to shoot from rediculous ranges ! Lol
villavillavilla
i see guzan played for the us of a last night, i dont know whether that means he can get a work permit. they lost 1-0 to spain and it took a quality goal by xavi to beat him.
bobbyfett
I thought I read somewhere last week that he needed 3 more caps?
PTP
Yeah, as far as i know, he played one of those 3 against us, another one the other day, making it one more game before he can come on over...seems a bit absurd, but if it means we can finally get a player in, then so be it. I can see him being our first signing the way MON is dithering.
AstonMartinOneill
why have we not been linked with Giovani dos Santos???
VillaMalta
Crouch, Kuyt, Robinson, can I change my allegiance to BCFC? At least you never expect anything there, so you're never disappointed.
glensider
Make a name for yourself here, then fk off somewhere else for a bit of glory? You're no hero of mine. You're a short sighted mercenary. I'll enjoy watching your demise.
evoflash
short sighted evo? 10 years he's been with us - hardly short-sighted is it. if he goes i'll wish him the best, whilst being extremely disappointed, and harbouring real doubts that it will work out as well for him over there. people who are saying it's a step down though or that Liverpool are a club in 'turmoil' are kidding themselves. Liverpool are a world famous club, compete for every title every year. we don't. I hope we will some day, but i fear the best we can hope for at the moment is to try and squeak into Europe, stay ahead of the rest of the pack (difficult next season staying ahead of Tottenham & Man City) and try to have a run in a cup or two. If I was Gareth Barry, a great pro, and ambitious, I too would be finding it a very difficult choice. He told us what was needed to make him stay - get some real quality signings in. Have we done that, no. Are we likely to? No. Tottenham and ManCity are walking the walk whilst we're still spouting that we've got quite a small squad. So I for one will not hold a grudge if Gareth sticks to his original statement and says "Sorry, you've not done enough to convince me you're serious."
YatesyVillain
Spot on Yatesy,talk is cheap and all i hear from people at Villa is talk,whilst we still get players going to the world giants that are Pompey ahead of us then i refuse to believe the hype.
ASPINALL
They pay much much higher wages though, and Spuz are in London, if we want to compete the first thing we need to do is get this wage structure taken apart.
PTP
Why take the wage structure apart? High wages doesn't give you success, just ask Newcastle and Man City to name a few! You have to build a team around players who want success and even though we would all love to see superstars at the Club what would that guarentee us apart from a high wage bill and soaring ticket prices?
Hoss The Villain
DAILY MIRROR: 'Martin O'Neill admits that Gareth Barry is likely to leave Villa' what a load of utter bol locks. He did not say that at all or anything like that! How can they get away with this ****? There isn't even a quote in their report slightly resembling that. Sorry to change the subject but it p*sses me right off.
Villan-in-Cyprus
Teamtalk also states along with setanta sports "It's a rebuilding job and we are going to try and start as quickly as we can", does this mean he hasnt started the rebuilding process yet?
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
I cannot believe these reports that say the Villa heirarchy have rolled over and played dead just because Liverpool are huffing and puffing at their door. Letting Gareth Barry go for a reported £14m is a joke. The Scousers are selling an injury prone player for £16m and replacing him with an England captain. It is a joke isn't it? £14m plus one of their squad like Riise, now that would be more like it. If we are going to roll over we might as well throw Gabby in for good measure.
Obediah
The papers today are an absolute shambles. They have taken quotes and turned them into something they are not. They should be ashamed.
steako
i posted the following on a daily rumour page by accident. thought i would repost here as it is fairly relevant to why the papers are being so stupid. Sorry it's a bit of a rant but Villa Transfer windows just seem to do that to me!!
Up The Villa
The press want Barry to move. An English international central midfielder who has been the driving force behind a team trying to push the top 4, moving to the team who finished 4th is massive news for lots of reasons. For a start it's 2 major English clubs and a major English player. Secondly it sends out all sorts of messages about just how big or small the gap between the top4 and the rest of the league really is. If Barry moves for the £14m that the papares suggest then the the top 4 team has won and taken our best player for less than he's worth. If he moves for £20m then the top 4 club has still won because their size and resources has allowed them to make us an offer we couldn't turn down. If we keep Barry and he announces his intention to stay with us then the gap isn't as big as it once was and finally the big 4 haven't got it all their own way. Whichever way ou look at it it's massive news for English papers and they'll continue to speculate and twist words until this drama is finally over. One thing i will say if MON is reading this is that if Barry moves for any less than £18m there will be some very angry Villa fans out there. Judging by the message boards, £18m or over and most will probably just about get over it in time. Personally i don't care how much money is offered. I think we should reject all offers just to show Liverpool that we're here to compete and we aren't going to be bullied in the market anymore. They can't have him and frankly they can **** off.
Up The Villa
I'm not talking about paying players silly money, especially if they aren't worth it (Craig Bellamy70/80k a week). But i would have loved it if we were willing to pay the wages to get Defoe. With our wage structure it limits us to few players that are good enough and MON doesn't need any more limitations on who he can sign. Mind you he probably wouldn't have paid Defoe without the structure. If we can get real quality that wants to play for Villa we should pay up.
PTP
UTV i totally agree. We dont need the money and, to be honest, Liverpool dont need Gareth Barry. I think the only reason they want him is because we are closing the gap and they feel threatened, so they want to take our captain and so unsettle the team. We really need to make a stand and reject all offers. If he does go and goes for less than 18m, then MON needs to be prepared for the torrent of abuse that will be heading his way, he has harped on about paying over inflated prices and if we let one of our own go, our captain at that, i think there will be some unrest to say the least.
steako
Good points UTV. In the old days a team had to make an offer that the selling club cannot turn down. They are skint so went through the papers and thought we would be as stupid as their fans in not seeing through their evil ploy. They have got Sky and the BBC on their side and most so called pundits are allowed to suggest that he should move just because Liverpool are a bigger club than us. As Steako says, if he goes, then it is more to do with detracting from us as the challenger than bolstering them. Chelsea have a full squad of players that don't even make the bench and would all get into a team in the bottom 6 week in week out.
Villan444
This new six subs on the bench idea is surely just to keep the massive squads of Manur'e and Chelsea happy and half the teams including us will struggle to even fill the quota. Yet more biased rules to keep the rich richer.
Villan444
What concerns me, more so than Chelsea having players in the squad, not playing reguarly who would make the bottom 6 teams every week...is that these players would probably be decent players for the teams from 6th-12th as well...Sidwell for example, and SWP...Sidwell at Reading, everyone was raving about and would have been a brilliant signing for Villa, suddenely one year in the darkness behind a squad of millionaire mercenaries at Chelsea and he is considered to be squad material. SWP, just a few years back was touted as the next best thing, how can he fill that potential if he doesn't get to play regularly? e.g. do you think barry would be as good as he is if he hadn't played week in week out for near enough the last decade?
I think the 7 subs on the bench idea (not 6) will be a good chance to give some of the youngsters at Villa a chance of 1st team football (even if its just through substitutions or even unused substitutes). But at the same time, it gives Chelsea, Man'Ure etc the chance to put some players on the bench who would have been unlikely to play in the past, but will they really be playing, or be happy all the same? I'm not convinced.
Villa4Europe
I think people are impatient because we have had 25 years of no ambition. Here's a thought on squad size - were would Liverpool have finished if Torres had suffered a serious injury or lack of form? and yet they have a big squad. In reality the difference between success and failure is minute. Having said that he did cost 26 mill and I sugest that we'll need to spend more than that on our squad to improve on last year.
myleftfoot
I can see this being a very dissapointing summer. I cannot see how we are going to sign the 6-7 players at minimum we need!!! To be honest if we get 4 quality 1st teamers It will be lucky.
Dos Santos for 4.7mil rising to 7mil, where the feck were we when this was being done, Bright Future we have been told, surely he fits the bill!!!! I think the lights need to be switched on at Villa Park and negotiations started quickly!!!! How can players prepare for the new season, if they are brough in late and have to settle quicker!!!! We need to get the majority of the Business sorted befoe the Intertoto starts!!!!
I am really scared for next season!!!!
erv2005
Guess I really need to hear some positives from Villa Park!!!
erv2005
All this rubbish about paying wages doesn't guarantee success....well that's quite obvious. What is equally obvious is that NOT paying high wages will guarantee a lack of success. We're about as attractive a proposition as Portsmouth at the moment, possibly less so - reason being is we won't pay enough for quality players. Diarra and Defoe would've improved our side no doubt - but we wouldn't pay. So no doubt you have to still choose your players carefully, but for people to say it's got nothing to do with paying premium wages is a bit naive. Of course we don't have the infrastructure to support those high wages yet....which is the catch 22 situation. If Randy isn't going to fund it from his own pocket, then where is the cash going to come from? I for one would be prepared for us to back ourselves, and give it a bash - run into the red for a season or two if we have to, if we make good decisions there's no reason why we can't push on and push forward.
YatesyVillain
early days people but i think a good message to everybody - fans, other cubs, etc... would have been a couple of quick quality signings, in particular after the departure of some players. and with MON and the board never saying much, we're all left to go nuts.
leftfoot
When did MON ever say they were interested in Diarra and Defoe and when did the Villa board ever say they wouldn't pay for them?
Hoss The Villain
Man City interested in Sidwell! MON can't help that but I wonder if he has a plan B to fall back on??
Gazvilla
Gaz to be honest I am getting worried about our Plan A forget plan Bs.
It is alleged that Mark Hughes has 60million to spend this season, spurs already have spent 20 mil, these two teams are linked with Ronaldiniho and Villa respectively, and we are linked with Hoyte and Sidwell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think we are becoming a laughing stock again!!!
erv2005
how is having common sense being a laughing stock? I'd rather have Sidwell over Ronaldinho anyday... why you might ask? well if we had him we would suddenly become a one man team which is not good.
industrial_musical
Its only June 7th and people are losing it already,in MoN I trust.
Pking
Farfan was sold for 10mil i though he would have been a good buy, a young international with a great goal record.. plus a Right midfielder thats what we need. In MoN we trust, but i hope he's not just buying english at expense of quality 'out of towner's'..
i think we will spend round 50mil hopefully 3 real quality, Keeper, Right back and midfielder.. plus another CB and central midfielder and maybe another striker. so at least six maybe 9 if we get some youngsters..
on Dos Santos i'm thinking spurs will be offering crazy wages for such an unproven youngster to come.. im thinking 45+..
i dont think lennon will come, could you imagine what Routledge would do.. he left spurs 2 get away from him..
Barry must stay.. at least he knows we have the financial stability to pay the wages.. The scousers bankrupt within 3 yrs you heard it here 1st LOL
aussie_villan
Hoss The Villain. Spot on. My info, and on this it is very good info, is that the board weren't asked to get Defoe. That was the managers choice and so fair enough, as much as some of us might have wanted to see him at Villa, it isn't our job on the line, the only persons opinion that counts on who to ask for is the managers and he will live or die by those decisions the same as any other manager. To imply the board wouldn't pay for Defoe is just wrong and if that had been the situation, you can bet your bottom dollar that MON would have said so, he has NO reason at all to take flack for non arrivals IF he asks and gets refused any funding.
The Fear
Another point is that there haven't exactly been many major moves yet have there?
The Fear
i'm feeling unreasonably impatient. I can't believe i was actually looking forward to this transfer window!! It's very early days and i expect/want the World already. I hope something happens soon. Might try cryogenically freezing myself for a month and then gorge myself on all the Villa news that i've missed. Hopefully it will include some big signings and no-one leaving
Up The Villa
Anyone expecting huge moves before the Euros is perhaps being a little naive. MONs point about being aware of players long before the tournement is a fair one, but the selling club of any player participating will want to give him a chance to shine and improve his sale value. I bet a typical conversation at the moment is "Can we buy player X off you?" to which the reply is probably "Yes, but come back in mid July."
azreal13
If MON didn`t want Defoe ( and Diarra ) then i`m even more worried.
ASPINALL
Nah, both have reputations for being difficult, saw an interview with Defoe back in Jan and have to say he struck me as quite an unpleasant character, players that don't play for the badge don't tend to show up on MONs radar. Just read a report linking us with Maggio from Sampdoria, sounds quality and is a right back with 9 goals last season, could be just what we need to kick start the window!
azreal13
I saw the link to maggio. not a player i have seen play but i like that players like this are being linked to us. his record appears good and he's not someone in the mainstream market with an inflated price due to reputation. Defoe is a good player and i was initially dissapointed that we weren't in for him as we could have used him for the second part of the season. Now the seasons over i'm actually glad he's not here. We achieved without him and need better characters at our club. he would have been great short term because he can find the net. But short term is not what we're trying to achieve. That said, we do need to start looking at some finished articles. We can't keep buying players who need a season in the reserves to build up their fitness and confidence(salifou/routledge). MON knows what needs to be done but i can't help feeling that just one major signing in the last 5 transfer windows would have given the fans more faith. Ashley was a great find, don't get me wrong. But he wasn't a big name when he joined. Diarra would also have been good for the last part of ther season but he's a mercenary and i'm also glad he's not with us. They're not the players that we need in the long term
Up The Villa
interesting post on the official site this morning. I might be reading too much into it but a post about the player liaison officer being told to get her sleeping bag ready and discussing her role in transfers could possibly suggest there is about to be some acvtivity
Up The Villa
We'll look forward to seeing that activity in her sleeping bag!.......Looks like Podolski is another tournament player as he was in Germany's last tournament 2006 world cup. He then went off the boil. Would he be good at the Villa and would MON be interested? This Maggio link looks good though and the sort of player we should push for and bid early. Get Milner and Sidwell in now. When GB comes back off his short holiday he will see that we have signed no-one and question our ambition. I can only see the top 4 picking up any talent from Euro's and we are again playing a dangerous waiting game. MON stated that we could sign 7 players at once. Ok, if we did that then how long would it take for these 7 to gel into our current squad. MON would be a great poker player as he gives nothing away! C'mon MON lets see some real activity in the market and not in this sleeping bag eh!
holte ender 1969
I read we were in pole position for Maggio because we are prepared to shell out 13mil! Ridiculous price for a fullback. Also, I'm keen on starting an Aston Villa Supporter's club out here in Los Angeles, does anyone know how to go about doing so? It's probably not easy but still...
los_angeles_villan
16th .. 11th .... 6th .... despite our frustrations MON knows what he's doing.
Beovilla
Why is 13mill ridiculous? Chelsea spend between 20 and 30mill for their players each time.
industrial_musical
Oh nearly forgot, anybody see how MON for the Germany v Poland game, he couldn't praise Boruc enough. Sounded like MON likes him to me.
industrial_musical
Up the Villa: don't read anything into the liaison officer article - it is an exact cut and paste from last year...D Bent, Sidwell, Shorey, Dunne, Elano, Guzan and that'll do for starters please.
koolbill
Then MGP, Wayne Bridge and Boruc....ta MoN, appreciated.
koolbill
13 million! Now that, if true, is more like it. Koolbill, so she has been in her sleeping bag for one year! LOL. Sorry for being immature all but we do have to make our own entertainment as we have no signings to speak of.
holte ender 1969
It's even more frustrating over here in New Zealand Los_angeles_villan. At least you have a half decent media who are not obsessed by an odd shaped ball. Ok, apart from the baseball and basketball. This site is my main source of info for the Villa. I guess that either makes me sad or this site fantastic and hip! FEAR, I think the latter.
holte ender 1969
LA Villan, if you look on the Official Site there is a link to the supporters groups around the world. There are already groups in New York and Chicago. I'm friends with the guy who organises the supporters group in Chicago. His contact details are on the Official Site, if you want to contact him, I'm sure he would be willing to offer any assistance.
notthedougellisstand
LA Villan, there is a link above on this site to the supporters groups + email details of the chap who organises it. Just go to CLUB MENU and then SUPPORTERS GROUPS
The Fear
hate to say it but i would be suprised if we sign anyone until after euro 2008.
Stig
I think most team's transfer plans are on hold until after Euro 2008. It doesn't help that MON is out there too..
The Usual Suspect
Maggio offer. http://www.teletext.co.uk/football/news/d86337ff8c59ab80ce4c4f45938c27a0/Villa+make+Maggio+offer.aspx
steako
Right thats it. I'm not looking at the web for Villa stuff until next Monday.
evoflash
Not yet tempting us!!!
Villan444
Apparently Maggio has signed for A C Milan. Another one bites the dust. Seems like we are chasing the same players as the top clubs but can't offer them the wages or the Champs league (and possibly the sun and the nightlife etc,) so don't get them.
Villan444
Yeah just seen that, i just want us to sign someone. Anyone. Maggio is the type of player we should be looking at though.
steako
TUS - I agree I'd be very surpised is there is any transfer action at all before Euro 2008 has finished, then the players have to go on holiday......
tarzan
Not many teams have signed anyone yet.
Pking
Deco anyone?
PPK
no to deco.. i thing we should be buying player under the age of 27-28 so we still have 3-4 really good years out of them.. not old players on huge money.. deco would want 150+ to come to us and i dont think that is a good investment.. that could pay 2-3 good young players.. i think MoN should look to some players in Germany and Portugal, also raid Valencia they have 2-3 player who i think would be great.. i think we should have a try for: Vincent Kompany van der Vaart Manuel Neuer Mario Gómez Per Mertesacker Diego Schweinsteiger Miguel David Silva i know we wont get all of them but i think even just trying for them will show the intent of MoN and the club and if we pick up a couple then awesome
aussie_villan
LA-Villan - I'll be in LA for a couple of weeks after this Friday. Fancy a beer?
Beovilla
Might sound abit weird but what about Zoltan Gera, he seems the sort of player who would thrive at Villa Park. At West Brom he was surrounded by Championship quality players and was head and shoulders above any of them, but imagine him surrounded by Carew, Young, Laursen? he might be a brilliant replacement for Barry?
industrial_musical
Yea Gera would be a good buy and on a free as well. Dont think he would be the ideal replacement for Barry "IF" he leaves but can definately provide competition for Maloney and Routledge for the right wing position if no move if made for Bentley or SWP. Reports however say he is going to join Fulham?
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
signed for Fulham supposedly. dang.
industrial_musical
west brom on their OS have said Gera is joining Fulham, however there is no confirmation from Fulham yet. On the right back issue, Chelsea have 5 right backs at present, 6 if you count Essien as a RB/CM. How bout a punt at one of their right backs? With Bosingwa, Ivanović and Ferreira highly unlikely due to leave surely Chelsea would be willing to let Belletti and Boulahrouz leave.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
west brom on their OS have said Gera is joining Fulham, however there is no confirmation from Fulham yet. On the right back issue, Chelsea have 5 right backs at present, 6 if you count Essien as a RB/CM. How bout a punt at one of their right backs? With Bosingwa, Ivanovic and Ferreira highly unlikely to leave surely Chelsea would be willing to let Belletti and Boulahrouz leave.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
we should have gone for Hutton. But as usual "we were never in for him". Just like many other quality players who could have improved our team but have gone elsewhere right under our noses
Up The Villa
Linked to Johnson of Everton. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! He's a bluenose and gave it large to the Holte after scoring once. Nver forgiven him. NO. NO. NO.
Gazvilla
SSN reports Barry does want a move to Liverpool and SSN will be speaking to Barrys agent later on
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
See this article today about Chimbonda. I say go get him to be honest.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3673502,00.html
AllanW
for 2million why not eh
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Chimbonda and his agent spoke to oneill before the euro's, nearly a done deal, the fee would be closer to 4 million.
Eircol
i think it's amusing that in previous windows when we were all expecting the World nobody wanted Chimbonda. We all wanted somebody better. The club seem to have managed our expectations through a lack of activity in previous windows and now we're keen just to see anyone fill that damn right back position. Personally I would prefer someone better rather than a player who has been muscled out of the Spurs lineup by better full backs. That said, screw it. lets just fricking sign him so we can move on
Up The Villa
lets start competeing with the big boy's in the transfer market. Why was MON not on BBc 2nite? Lets say its n ot because we are sigin anybody more like sorting out selling Barry. Bad move in my opinion but now we can move on aswell and show him what he is missing. we must trust The Randy MON era.
pksandell
competing with the big boys? i know i'm full of negativity at the moment but we can't even compete with the not so-big-boys. Tottenham have already shown their hand by signing 2 players i would give my left nut to see in a Villa shirt. Man City are yet to make a signing but there is heavy press surrounding the potential Jo transfer and the link to Ronaldinho will do little to hurt their profile when going after other players. Everton are also being linked with players that i would love to see at Villa such as Arshavin and Matias Fernandez. I think we need to get realistic and concern ourselves with consolidating what we did this season. Pushing on and competing with the big boys is going to take serious money and big name signings which would appear to be beyond us. I fear that we need so many palyers that spending more than a few million on any of them isn't going to happen
Up The Villa
Why are Villa fans so negative all the time,if the season starts and we have signed no one then its a disaster,I dont think the window has even opened yet.Id rather we take our time and make as few mistakes as possible,rather than rush in.If we dont have as much money as first thought then people need to accept it.
Pking
PKing, i'm desperate to be proved wrong. in a strange way i'm hoping that my comments will have a reverse sods law effect and i will end up with egg on my face
Up The Villa
I know how you feel Up The Villa,in MoN I trust.
Pking
Beovilla - Yea let's grab a pint - I know a great place english pub in Santa Monica where I watch the Euro games if you're interested. Where are you staying in LA?
los_angeles_villan
This transfer window was all about new players coming in alas it will turn into a "can we replace one who left" thread.
col8
LA Villan. I may have been there. I remember watching the Villa - Leeds League Cup final over that way in 96. I remember being very drunk by 8 am. If I remember rightly my brother lives in La Mirada. I was there in October, but not quite sure of the name of the place. By the way, I saw Sven yesterday. He's staying in the same hotel as me in Mexico City right now. He and Tord were having dinner. A tad off thread that, but I thought I'd share it! Let's keep in touch.
Beovilla
cant blame barry going really, not like the club have shown ANY ambition so far in the transfer window. the yanks and oneill will be in for a pasting if we are left high and dry again come midnight on the 31st of august.
Stig
totscum are a prime example of a club that want to break into the top 4, look what they are doing in the transfer window. i think to many villa fans are swallowing the pr coming out of the club and how great randy is rather than considering football matters first.
Stig
Stig, check out my post slightly higher on the page. it's not just Topttenham showing more ambiton than us
Up The Villa
Barry confirms Liverpool interest
Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry has told Martin O'Neill he wants to join Liverpool.
The Anfield club made an offer for Barry before the end of the season and O'Neill was upset the discussions became public.
Now Barry has confirmed he is interested in the proposed transfer.
A Villa statement read: "Gareth Barry has stated in discussions with our manager he would like to leave Aston Villa to join Liverpool.
"But Liverpool's bid for the player has been rejected and they have been informed of Villa's continued position in this matter."
O'Neill has revealed Liverpool offered players in part-exchange for Barry.
Astonian Villan
damn traitor.
Astonian Villan
We need answers from Villa, because for Barry to say he is leaving is worse than Yorke when he went to Manure!!!!!!
Show we do not match his ambitions with regard to Champions League Football, I knew we were in dreamland, this is the worst day ever.
erv2005
It is definitley worse - the 5 year plan is not going to happen if in the 3rd year we are giving players to the worst of the big4 - the one of the 4 who look like they are going downhill!!! Chelsea, Liverpool or Man Utd okay but not to the Reds. If Gerrard want to play with Barry come to Villa and fight with Salifou and Osbourne for a place on the bench (tongue-in-cheek - before the scousers come on here), If Barry wants Champions League football offer him to Standard Liege, Linfield or Sparta Prague. If we are to sell to Liverpool do not budge from the £18-20million figure - Spurs did with Carrick and Bayern did with Hargreaves - players who Barry is keeping out of the team!!!! If they cant afford it - O'Neill take you pick of makeweights in that team - forget Finnan or Pennant - ask for Kuyt or Babel!!! Stuff them - do not become a selling club. Whatever offer they do come up with that Randy is happy to accept THEN ask for Carson on top of it - he will do a a 2nd choice for the next few years!! I just hope another club joins the bidding - why are Arsenal not interested after Flamini left and Gilberto is out of favour!!??
deano.avfc
Oh by the way - moves for Huddlestone, Bullard, Sidwell etc. etc. I hope the fact that they have not been progressing is a smart move by O'Neill - if we had them signed up it gives an indication that we are willing to let him go. I just hope when Barry leaves TWO other centre-midfielders come walking in that can do as good a job with plenty of change left over!!!
deano.avfc
We are really running out of players at an alarming rate here - I just suggested a poll for who the new captain should be and I struggled to get past 5 players who will play week in week out. Who is going to join a team so low on numbers???
deano.avfc
http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/06/11/villa-need-beefing-up-mcloughlin/
Eircol
read the link above, not bad reading considering.....
Eircol
my concern here is the sort of message letting the captain of the club leave gives to other clubs. wierd man.....whatever....
leftfoot
W
Astonian Villan
Would be interested in knowing how Barry will be treated by us villans if/when he goes to liverpool, melberg was treated like a god and Barry would if he was to go abroad but joining our main compatition just dont feel like i even want him to stay, what about you guys
Astonian Villan
http://www.footballfancast.com/blog/aston-villa/why-are-aston-villa-dragging-their-feet-transfer-market/4028
Up The Villa
link above sums it nicely. I think we need to bring in a director of footbal who has strong international links to take over transfer responsibilities. Our current board is clearly inept in the market. MON is a great motivator but the situation is getting rediculous
Up The Villa
someone like Graham Taylor would be great.
industrial_musical
15m the 3mil for winning PL or Champ league.. that 3mil is useless really.. its a pipe dream add on, should be 50 appearances or something then at least we'd get the money in reality its a 15mil deal.. that deal (15mil+3) plus finnan and pennant plus i'd consider.. value around 20mil with a 3mil bonus if the pool get lucky and all the other teams in the world have food poisoning for the entire year
aussie_villan
Would be nice to hear Barry talking in the press rather than skulking behind his Agent. At least he could save some face and try to give us Villans some belief that our Captain isn't a complete traitor and has some humanity left.
Villan444
It aint that bad guys...when Yorke went we had an owner who was happy to have the money and run...now we have a guy who has turned us from being relegation fodder into a top six team. Just relax. We will get signings. We will get good players. We are heamoraging players but we'll deal with it. We are not a one man team. Half the players who've left only provided our physios with something to do / weren't ever going to play for us again anyway, they weren't even squad cover. I am confident we will resolve all our issues. Sit back and getready to be amazed.
koolbill
Now it's out in the open the floodgates should start....barry goes and we tart buying...Sidwell, Shorey, MGP, D Bent, Milner / Giles Barnes (remember him - he's blatantly coming to us and he's a good a prospect as Ramsay), Guzan (definitely coming). all of these guys would improve us. A cheeky bid for Kuyt wouldn't be that bad, Rafa always plays him out of position anyway. Don't know about Crouchy, really unsure about that but would take Babel ANY DAY - excellent and as much of a hot prospect as Young.
koolbill
Koolbill, We've all been thinking that way for 5 transfer windows. I'm afraid i'm getting bored with keeping the faith. If we'd spent at Christmas and brought in even one big player then we may not have ended the season in such a limp and tired fashion. Barry leaving may not have been an issue and the rest of the league would understand that we're not just here to make up the numbers, that we do have ambition and that 6th wasn't a fluke. The press right now are ripping us to pieces. We are becoming a laughing stock and the negative press is not going help us to convince these targets to come here instead of elsewhere. We've not actually won a transfer battle yet. Every single signing that O'Neill has made was done without competition. Including Ashley Young. All i want is for one dam player to pick us ahead of our competitors but that hasn't happened aqns most worrying is that we don't even seem to be in the market for them.
Up The Villa
Maggio has joined Napoli by the way. Another one bites the dust
Up The Villa
Ah you're joking!!! I thought that he would have chose AC over us but Napoli - ah dear!!! Maybe we never made a move - same way we never made a move for Luke Young, Alan Hutton and Bosingwa and look how good those decisions were!!!
deano.avfc
I am glad I am not the only onewho feels so disheartened and negative by our approach to the transfer windows. I am sick of our approach to transfer windows and our waiting around to see who which teams get rid of players before signing them. I seriously think we ahould get a director of football because it is simply not good enough! Paul Merson would be great as he only said a couple of weeks ago that we should be breaking the bank to get Henry and this is the kind of ambition we need...!
If we have acted sooner we may have been able to convicne Barry to stay instead we will now have to replace 6 players who have left this season and then add on the challnge of European football as well! Meanwhile MON is earning himself some extra pocket money from the BBC instead of sorting out the DIRE situation we are in now....
Tez86
I understand your feelings UTV and I am not exactly riding the crest of a Villa Transfer wave BUT I believe we will act because we have to...last season MoN didn't have real first teamers going but now has 3 gone and MUST act. Young chose us over WHAM by the way and they were offering stupid money. I am in as much limbo as anyone else but we have got to keep our chins up...most of the young guys we want will actuall see we are a team where they CAN play and this could work hugely in our favour...it's mopstly about money for footballers but not all about money, some actually want to play 30+ games a season and here they certainly will. Villa won't rest on this one, trust me. As Lft Frank Drebin would say in times of relentless pursuance, grave responsibility and immediate action: "Now, let's grab a bite to eat".
koolbill
p.s. Moyes is commentating too. Right now on the Czech v Portugese. And Everton haven't bought....but they haven't lost star players either...DOH! Let's take Cahill off them!!!! Ha, no chance, reality check.
koolbill
Also if we cannot convince our club captain we are going places how are we going to convince quality players to come to VP! I think next year we will back to mid table mediocracyand then Ash Young will be on his way elsewhere at the end of the season....
Tez86
Koolbill, loving the Frank Drebbin quote but not buying into your optimism. I was optimistic for the last 5 windows and i'm over it i'm afraid. Forgive my mistake over Ashley Young althought the fact the only team we have beaten to a signing in 5 windows is West Ham doesn't really alter the validity of my point. Tez86, we are on the same page with this. I commented a day or 2 ago that if we are serious about moving foward then we should bring in a director of football with international links. Tottenham have signed Dos Santos and Modric because of the worldwide reputation and connections that Juande Ramos has. We need someone in the club with that level of world wide knowledge and reputation if we are going to compete. The big teams all have that as well as links to major clubs all over the World who act as feeder clubs and provide access to overseas markets. We may be a big team but our reputation around the World is not even in the same league with the big 4 or even Tottenham. A season or 2 more in Europe and Everton will have built up their reputation as well. If MON doesn't prove himself in this window then we need to give very serious thought to bringing in people who can help him with transfers
Up The Villa
Being a Villa Supporter is turning to be a lot like Religion. Blind faith that always disappoints.
los_angeles_villan
We are on the same page and I feel we are not alone, another couple of weeks and the faithful will start to be nervous...The thing tat annoys me more than anything is this is not the 1st time this has happened depspite what anyone says we were verylucky to achieve the position we got last season with barry young a laursen managing to stay fit. January came and there was a real opportunity to push on we brought in 1 player who didnt play hardly at all, I just wonder what could have been. Now we are well into this window I cant help feeling that we will act the same...we cant surely be as lucky as we were last season?! Even so we are 6 players down (3 1st team players), doesnt it annoy anyone else that the like of modric and santos go to spurs without us even trying to compete with them. On top of all that MON comes out and tells us top 4 is only a dream....thanks for the optimism Martin!
Tez86
MON's comments are an obvious attempt to manage our expectations and are becoming somewhat typical. Before anyone draws me on this Carew, Young and Reo-Coker were excellent signings and the form shown by Barry and Agbonlahor is quite clearly all down to MON. I'm not at all anti MON and firmly believe he is the man to lead us to glory over time. Rome wasn't built in a day and attracting good players requires good peformances like we showed last season. That said, he has appeared very unambitous in the market and with Man City set to spend big, Everton already having an excellent side and Tottenham already putting us to shame i'm afraid that this window is far too important to allow him to dither and drag his feet in the market for the sixth time.
Up The Villa
BTW, Reo-Coker for captain anyone?? He's already done it for West Ham and England U 21's and is clearly going to an ever present for us next season. Passionate, driven and plays with pride. He's got my vote
Up The Villa
cor blimey is this site on a loop ? one minute optimism the next disappointment . FFS it is June ! 2 and a half whole months until the transfer window closes. It is also Euro 2008 and quite frankly no one is going to buy now , it's too fecking early . Patience my friends. MON is an intelligent man , i am sure that he knows who he wants (the scouts have had a whole season to look at players) just wait .... Patience is a virtue !
jaspervilla
Spurs started rebuilding last season and will storm up the league this year, potentially 3rd place beckons. We will have to sign 8 players, 4 top quality and four prospects like the two guys from Leicester and Giles Barnes and Scannell for squad cover and so on....we will do it boys but it will be infuriatingly tense! Come on MoN, get spending!! Please.
koolbill
what is all the panic about there is plenty of time to bring in new players and replacing Barry is not that hard. We need a playmaker in midfield someone with vision and an ability to pass of all the qualities Gareth has vision and an ability to make a telling pass are not amongst them. The other ares where we need players in in defense and we will without doubt bring in players. There is a lot of rubbish talked sometimes about transfers some clubs like Newcastle, Man City, Tottenham all spend vast sums and fail. MONS approach is different and is more like Moyes at Everton but which club has had the most success? Young, Davis, RC AND Petrov have all worked although Petrov is perhaps debatable, previous years are only a disapointment if you approach them thinking we are going to buy up all of europe. We have to be real the club will never bring in a director of football over MON and he would leave if they tried to so relax and look forward to another season where we will be exciting and competing at the top end of the table.
daveldvilla
I cannot argue with young, he has been fantastic for us. Hokey Cokey was not wanted at West Ham, Carew was part of the swap for Baros which as far as I am aware was initiated by Lyon (please correct me if this is wrong). On the pitch I doubt there is many that wouldnt agree MON is fantastic, however he does seem to have the crippling weakness in the transfer market. Now I know most managers dont like the thought of a director of football but as this (like you say UTV) is his 6th window without sign of big investment maybe one wouldnt go amiss. As for captain I very much would like to see Laursen or Davies as they were both very solid and I feel they will be essential to us next year (when Davies is fit of course) I also like CB as captains...
Tez86
The panic is about MON's lacking in the transfer market. Granted, he is an excellent manager and man motivator but can we expect him to do everything. 2 years now and we have Davis, Young and possibly Reo-Coker, forget Stan as he knew him before anyway and he hasn't produced yet and time is running out. Reo-Coker is a whiner more than an enforcer and the latter is what we need. Laursen would put his head on the line and win the ball and for that reason gets my vote for Captain. 8 1st TEAM PLAYERS (minimum) NEEDED ASAP
Villan444
SSN reports they belive Villa are interested in signing Jimmy Bullard, but didnt Roy Hodge say he is not interested in selling him?
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Jimmy Bullard would be ok...is he better than Barry though?
Tez86
bullard would add a new dimension but he's not the type of quality of first team player we need to compete. I haven't seen Tottenham, everton or man city falling over themselves with excitement at the thought of his availability. Koolbill, i read an article quoting MON that he learned of Carews availability after Houllier said that he had someone of unbelievebale talent coming through the ranks which turned out to be Karim Benzema. That would suggest that MON initiated the deal. I may be wrong though
Up The Villa
sorry that comment about Carew was directed to Tez86. Not Koolbill
Up The Villa
If thats the case Carew was a good bit of business, he or someone else needs to score 20+ goals though. I dont think a massive amount needs to be spent on each player I mean a Ronaldinho or Henry would be very nice but look at Mark Hughes at Rovers his scouting network brought Santa Cruz, Benni Marcarthy and (my personal favourite) Christopher Samba for all next to nothing. It doesnt seem as Villa have that sort of set up.
Tez86
Im sure there are other teams looking at him but the Turkish keeper Volkan looks quality.I believe he's a bit of a nutter though.
Pking
Samba was a superb signing
Pking
Samba was 400 thousand pounds! Not bad is it, makes you wonder who we could get if we had a similar scouting network...
Tez86
And some luck I would think...
Getting Samba for that money might have required being the right place at the right time, as well as needing a player in that particular position at that particular time. Someone like Salifou could turn out to be a signing of similar quality, who knows, only time will tell!
Villa4Europe
I'd love to see MON turn Sidwell into twice the player Barry is and have him take over his spot in the England Squad.
los_angeles_villan
that would be mazing although we haven't signed Sidwell yet and another 4 or 5 clubs seem to have jumped on the bad wagon. Fingers crossed that this is one transfer battle we win! I bet MON could really make him a quality player
Up The Villa
Anyone know where the clubs announcement is and if they have released one? I have left a message to the General as I think he does kind of skip over those questions on the Forum and think we all deserve an answer to this.
What I would give to hear the conversation between Barry and MON to see what was said in their meeting. One it would clear the air with us fans ie Is Barry just being stupid by wanting to Join Gerrard at Liverpool, who have no cash, board that argue, Manager the size of Outer Mongolia and a team of Tw4ts!!!! Sorry but it makes me laugh and I hope and pray we sign 7 - 9 players we need, as we are 6 down from last year already, finish in the Top4 , beat Liverpool in the cup, they end up going bankrupt and sell all the assets off, Barry cause of his loss of form goes to Scum and we get Torres to clean Asleys boots!!!!! I hate Liverpool more than Manure!!!!!!!!
I need to calm down a TAD!!!!
erv2005
you're completely right and you don't need to calm down. Aston Villa need to lodge an immediate complaint over Liverpool's behaviour
Up The Villa
Sidwell and Bullard the replacements for bin dipper Barry - you heard it here last. Still rumours that Liverpool can't afford him. Offered us cr@p players as part ex.
tarzan
We should have right to complain I doubt we will win any appeals against one of the big four tho. I have just read in the independent that Man City think they succeded in convincing Ronaldonho to go to Eastlands, it is likely that they will pay over 100,000 a week for him. I for one (although granted extremely unlikely) would love to see us snatch him, a signing like him would catapult us into the big time. Get him fit and playing again and other players would follow. We may have to restructure the wage system though but if we are wanting to be top 4...
Tez86
ok time for positive energy: incoming players - akinfeyev, guzan, hoyte, samba, nelson, milner, van der vaart, reid, saviola, martins. up the villa!
leftfoot
engelaar from fc twente anyone? great performance against italy.
los_angeles_villan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/12/premierleague.astonvilla
Alright MON, That's the kind of attitude I want to hear.
los_angeles_villan
I've heard we're after Hennessey from Wolves for 6mill. Everton and the Arse are after him as well.
industrial_musical
The way Engerkaar moved round the field reminded me of Carew.
steako
Did anyone notice oniell not with the bbc again yesterday?
Eircol
Ericol...I noticed. Oba Martins....no thanks i'd rather have Obo Wan Kenobi!!!!
koolbill
Martins is quality, would rather we had him than most of the other rumours.
Villan444
O'Neill was only contracted to the BBC for a couple of games anyway wasn't he?
Villa4Europe
Going back further than Yorke leaving as a comparison, I remember being devestated when John Gidman and especially Andy Gray left. 2 years later we lifted the League Championship. Lets hope MON has the same depth of vision as Saunders.
dannyvellow
torsten frings anyone? i think gardner will get his fair share of games next season and rightly so - think he is a excellent player at a very young age who will just keep improving. liverpool have made a new bid for barry - probably bout £12million - so much for not having much money!!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Looks like he is off, but we are holding out for 15-20 mil, which I feel is a fair price for a Decent midfield player.
Now next season I really want us to finish 4th, the team really has a proper target now and to finish 4th ahead of them would plese me so much.
The next 2 months are going to be the most important in our History!!!! MON + randy really need to show us they mean business with the 5 year plan!!!!!!!! I have everything crossed.
erv2005
Also I hope it does not disrupt the other players too much as well.
erv2005
I cannot believe all the negativity on this forum.
MoN is a very intelligent guy and if he didnt believe he could achieve great things at Villa he would be off !
We have never had it so good at VP for years and years.
Of course we need players and we WILL get them and they will be good ones !
Splashing out big money doesnt mean success eg Collymore,Curcic etc etc
We want players who believe in us like A Young who could of joined Spurs or WH He chose wisely and is now in the England set up along with Curtis Davies and Gabby so just stop whingeing and get behind our club !!
scoops
Apparently we have rejected an offer of 15 million and want 18-20. If they offer that I would bite their hand off quick. Gareth is a good player but at 20 million he is being overvalued. Good on MON if Liverpool had approached this in the right way I am sure MON would have accepted 12-14 he's playing hardball to annoy Rafa. We seem to linked with a number of midfielders and apparently MON was was in meeting last night formulating our plans. We will wait and see.
daveldvilla
Couldn/t agree more scoops some fans are only happy when their moaning last season was our best in years not because of the position we ended up at but because of the way we played and the age of the team. We will bring in players and they will do well, but even if we won everything in sight some people would still whinge.
daveldvilla
thats a fact of life.
industrial_musical
Spot on scoops. What a load of moaners. Whatever we may think one man has invested more than any of us - RL. Do you really think that he is sitting on a sun bed somewhere not thinking about the next steps and not asking what is happening? I know writing messages gives us something to do, but this endless negative stuff is pointless. As far as I know we don't even have a game on this Saturday - or next - so cheer up and get off their backs.
Gordonsleftboot
Losing Barry has caused this negative feeling guys and things would be different if he had told them where to stick their offer. Also signing a few ( or even 1 ) players would get people cheered up. MONs lame previous dealings have made everyone (maybe including Barry) pessimistic. Time will tell.
Villan444
I agree Villan444 the only reason I am negative is because all I feel is negative at the moment. I was over the moon with the 6th finish last season, and I am overjoyed by the way the team is playing, but for our Captain to turn around after speaking to the Chairman and Manager and decide HIS future lies elswhere, then that does signal alarm bells for me and I feel we are not in the position we thought we were, we dont have enough ambition behind the scenes to take the club further. As the next step of course is the automatic Uefa cup spot and then Champions League. Next year we will have to compete again with Liverpool, Everton, possibly Spurs and maybe Man City. These teams have strengthened or not lost the players we have, none of them have lost their captain!!!! And they are spending on strengthening the team, we have to sit here and we get a 8 line statement on the Club website, to state, the offer has been refused and we are being told not to be negative, I really really hope the club prove me wrong!!!!!! UTV
erv2005
A problem i had when randy first took over i thought great we might spend big but it hasn't happened, the work Mon and randy have done has impressed me, the team from fighting relegation two year's ago to uefa cup qualification, in most seasons it would have been enough to get in without intotobob, Randy's been great most impressed with the way the club communicates with the fans, I'm still upbeat. utv
chris the villan
Oh on the the player front if Barry leaves id like Bullard as a replacement.
chris the villan
I can't see Bullard leaving Fulham. I heard a link somwhere today to Van der Vaart...now that would be a signing!
Villa4Europe
West Ham selling players to reduce the wage bill, Spurs losing their best player by a mile at the very least, Man U losing Ronaldo, Man City losing their captain and best young prospects, Newcastle no money for players and desparate to cut the wage bill, Liverpool only have the champions league money which was 20 million and are forces to sell if they want to buy, I could go on. Are all these
clubs lacking in ambition of course not players move on for many reasons thats life. As a club we will move on and replace Barry with a better player although not everyone will agree I think Barry has been overated. We are in a stronger position than most of our rivals including Liverpool and our or MON'S track record on transfers is much better than Spurs, West Ham, Newcastle, Man City, all of whom may as well just burnt money in the street. I am positive and looking forward to the new season it promises much.
daveldvilla
I wouldn't read too much into Gareth deciding his future is elsewhere after that meeting with MON and RL. How many people has he had in his ear about a move? Gerard, Benitez, Mr 15 %, the press, his family. Who knows and who cares! All I know is that he's got it in his head to move and IF a bid comes in that is acceptable to this great club of ours then he's gone. End of story! I've still got faith in the Lord our MON! I just don't think any deals are gonna be completed before the latter stages of the Euros and maybe a couple of weeks after that if they all go on holiday. Chill out, enjoy the sun (thing in the sky not the rag) and by this time in next year we'll be riding high after victory after victory, claiming our place in the Champion's League! UTV
Rawlie
Noby Solano is lookin for a club! should we go for him yes or no??
mattyh1986
Here's a thought, its commonly thought that Pool are selling Alonso to Juve to finance the Barry deal. I've just read that Juve are not willing to meet Rafa's valuation. What happens if Pool pull out for Barry cause they can't sell Alonso for enough?! We would have one very sheepish looking midfielder on our hands..
azreal13
Or what about swapping barry for alonso + 4 or 5 million from them...
Eircol
what about Aiden McGeady or Allan McGregor from scotland?
i think we should have rivaled Celtic for Andreas Hinkel when he signed for 2mil last year.. good rb that can dribble .. our back 4 dont always look that good with the ball at there feet...
aussie_villan
Alonso wouldn't come, he wants warmer climates. Think MoN should concentrate on getting a start on the transfers, he is so laid back but we need a tonic at the moment. I agree that the negativity has crept up but I also understand that the last tranfer window has had a huge impact on the feeling of all fans....having bought only one player really put us on the back foot and people are worrying and rightly so. I believe MoN will get it right - Barry will go - we will be surprised with some of the signings.
I'd like to suggest a Poll: Which current MF will step up to the bar when/if Barry goes? Will Salifou spread his wings, will Maloney suddenly perk up with extra playing time and responsibility and live upto his undoubted potential, will Petrov flourish as the main man? Young, Routledge, Petrov, NRC....still not a bad MF if on song, with Gardner - who if we are honest is already a better player than NRC with a better end pass and free kick/shot. After that we are pretty short in MF...
koolbill
MF wish list: Matty Taylor, Mort Gamst Pedersen, Nicky Hofs from Feyenoord, James Milner and let's enrage Celtic by getting the experienced and exciting Nakamura. Steve Sidwell.
Striker wish list: D Bent - he actually shoots from outside the area! R Santa Cruz -why not??
Defender wish list: Belletti, Wayne Bridge, Nicky Shorey.
GK wish list: Guzan and Carson / Niemii
koolbill
Darren Bent is one of my favourite strikers if he can score 20+ for a very poor Charlton he will lap up the delivery from Young! He is unfortunately playing at a side with Keane and Berbatov in but with Dos Santos arriving surely a cheeky bid would be a good idea? He is young quick and english, MON's cirteria
Tez86
I just want point out to everyone who is ganging up on the pessimists. Only signing one player(who barely featured) in the last transfer window when we had the smallest squad in the league was a MASSIVE error of judgement. We were riding very high in the league at the time and everyone on this forum was absolutely gutted that we didn't sign the players that could help us maintain that lofty position (we were in 4th i believe). We were extremely lucky only to lose Curtis Davies to a long term injury and even that one injury saw us haemorrhage goals for the next 10 games. If we had the injury problems of some other sides last season we wouldn't be anywhere near Europe. I'm sorry but ppl have short memories. We've never had it better but an opportunity was thoroughly missed and i'm not going to put my head in the clouds over this. Not strengthening the team better at Christmas was reckless and i don't want to start the season relying on luck to get us through the most important season in the last 20 years. Our league performance and style of play was excellent and MON is without doubt the saviour. But i'm not going to apologise for my annoyance at his weakness in the market and the risks he took last season with squad depth
Up The Villa
Akinfeev in nets would be an awesome signing by the way
Up The Villa
UTV - that's all very well, but players have to want to join us, unless you are one of the top 3/4 this aint gonna happen! Nearly all teams were not selling in January. People point to Defoe etc - but no one knows who our targets were, if the sellers were only selling to certain clubs (you can be sure our rivals wouldn't want to sell to us, an up and coming threat - Carson for 10M illustrates this) and whether the players wanted to join other clubs.
tarzan
I have to say I am 100% with Up The Villa with this one. It cant just be me who was devastated when we didnt kick on from 4th and biy players to bolster our squad with. Even more suprising than our lack of activity in January was that Martin (Made of Glass) Laursen played over 30 games without getting injured. Everyone seems to keep syaing no1 else has bought anyone yet or its still early days, most other teams actually could field a first 11 and subs where as we would generally struggle. We have only have 1 keeper for a start...!
Tez86
anyone see schweinsteiger for germany came on as a sub.. i know he played on the left for them but he did take corners with his right foot. so could probably play on the right or even in the centre lokked like he had a decent left foot as well. (he's a bit like young it think). he looked lively.. maybe a bid for him if we're serious about bringing in quality. ... i wrote this before the end of the game... hes just been sent off so maybe not..
aussie_villan
anyone would thik our preseason starts in two weeks at the rate oneill is signing players. cant wait to hear the famous old ''he didnt have a preseason with us this year so will take time to settle in''
Stig
tarzan, we were in the top 3/4 at christmas. what better time to strengthen. MON should have known that doing that in the christmas window would be difficult so more players should have been brought in last summer. I'm sorry but ppl can't keep making excuses for his transfer policy just because he is strong in all other areas. the signings he's made have been mostly good but there hasn't been anywhere enough of them and anyone who is happy riding the waves of fortune and keeping their fingers crossed that we don't pick up injuries must be crazy. ANYWAY. It is early in the window. This post was to defend some of the more pessimistic amongst us and to voice my frustration over the risks taken last year. The Euro's will be winding down before we know it and hopefully MON will show us all what he has up his sleeve. although that statement does incur a mild feekling of deja vu
Up The Villa
Matías Fernández or Jérémy Menez anyone.. classy young midfielders... on problem would likely cost 15 mil each.. i think go 4 one.. probably Menez if we sell Barry.. use his money to invest in a young player..
aussie_villan
Aussie Villan I think Shweinsteiger would be a hit,great left foot ,young bags of talent and would flourish under MoN and he would prob benefit with a change of scenery go get him Villa !!
scoops
We could get Scweinsteiger I think. He didn't play a lot due to Ribery coming to Bayern and is low on confidence. Also, Boruc is completely ass raping Austria right now. Call your old club MON.
los_angeles_villan
Menez would be awesome. Get him on the opposite wing to Young to give us a 2 sided attack. Fernandez is predominantly a left sided player and so is young so prob best leave that one. there was talk of boruc before but apparently he would cost 9 mil.
Up The Villa
torsten frings is on my wishlist .
Dudley_Villa
The problem here is that there is a huge difference between our world as fans and the world in which MON lives in. To us its simple buy in 7,8,9 players we come up with names and thats it. The trouble is most of the players we or any other club are either not for sale or wouldn't pick us anyway. It will be difficult again this year as it was last but i think we did well last year. Everyone has a right to their view but for me the transfer market is not an area where MON is weak its one of his strengths i think he has done as well as our rivals and better than many. Our poor finish was in part due to some poor games from Gareth whose mind was on other matters but also on some mistakes by Carson and that happens. In the end we were never going to be 4th it was always going to be 5th or 6th which is a good starting point for next season.
daveldvilla
Spot on daveldvilla
Pking
Cannot see Schweinsteiger (got to be one of the stupidest names of all time) coming here, or leaving Germany for England for that matter. He's a bit of a hero in Germany. German press would hate it. Be a great buy though.
Beovilla
We still look a million miles from signing anyone,another Villa transfer window groundhog day - it`s very disappointing.
Carson/Guzan/Nelson/Solano/Van der Vaart/Sidwell/Bullard/Servet please.
ASPINALL
Solano?? wtf lol
industrial_musical
Aspinall mate...are you kidding over Solano...no way...the only way i'd take him is if you rearranged all the letters in his name to form the name Alonso (it's true). Everyone else barring Servet I agree with.
koolbill
This was on a rumour site:
villa fans
Let me be the first to tell you that you have just
signed Artur Borac from Celtic – as soon as Poland are eliminated from the Euro's he will sign a five year contract.
I'll keep you posted. Villa Insider
Hope its true....
KSarge1
Heard that also, and if you saw the panel on the bbc last night they were all raving about him, oneill didnt say a word on him? maybe he didnt want to make anything to obvious...
Eircol
That is exactly what i thought last night...yes they all raved but MON just stayed unusually silent and was not even asked about it?
KSarge1
Strachan said before kick off that hes going no where as hes one of celtics top stars.
Astonian Villan
Strachan would say that, just like MON said Barry was going nowhere until Barry asked for the move.
industrial_musical
possibly but its unlikely in my opinion, strachan is usualy open with so called done deals.
Astonian Villan
something from spanish club Almeria regarding MONs interest in Sanchez and Domenech. these guys had blinders for this club in la liga this season, and i'd welcome some spanish flavour at villa.
leftfoot
anything that shows MON is looking further afield than the UK is more than welcome in opinion. Salifou and Carew are the only examples of that so far. And Guan but he's not in a Villa shirt......yet
Up The Villa
Absolutely sick of the GB saga now. I'm pleased with how the club have handled it but it is all that News Now and the papers have at the moment. It's becoming very hard to find any speculation about players actually coming in because all everone wants to talk about is stupid GB. Hope Liverpool make a sensible bid soon
Up The Villa
patience, patience, Villa will confirm 2 signings by the end of next week, remember were you read it first....
Eircol
I hope you're right eircol!
industrial_musical
Eircol, i actually believe you on that one, trouble is you didnt say if they were signings coming in or going out ;)
Astonian Villan
Very pleased by MON's comments recently that we will looking to push on from 6 th even without GB. Perhaps he has had some good news regarding a potential target as he seems to have changed his tune to a more positive one. Fingers crossed that some deals are done and he is just waiting for the players to conculde their respective Euro campaigns
Up The Villa
UTV, you might be onto something, i could well imagine boruc signing (who a few days ago he was raving about, and in their last game he was very quiet about him) plus there's talk of Frankie Simek
industrial_musical
fingers crossed industrial_musical. i've not actually been shy with my discontent that more players haven't arrived in the last few windows. But MON is very clever and despite the risks taken last season he's had plenty of time to decide who he wants. A 6 th place finish and Europe is a much better position to be in when scouring the market for talent.
Up The Villa
alright Wilf!!! The Bouma gets his time!
los_angeles_villan
Get in there Bouma make us proud, I know most other people will disagree but Bouma us the heart of the Holland side, if he wasnt sat on the bench, the rest of the team wouldnt be a prolific as they are now ha ha ha....
Tez86
I am very much enjoying the holland style of play, with a few more acquisitions our style of play could be very similar. Big John up front like nistlerooy, pace on the wings with young and whoever we get for right midfield. Van der Vaart and another creative player in midfield and some pacy wing backs and Boruc in goal. We are already a fine counter attacking side who can score goals hopefully the only way is up! Also it may be worth pointing out that Juventus seem to have cooled interest in Alonso because of Liverpools Valuations, they may not be able to raise the cash for a certain Barry...unless of course they sell Torres which I for one would love to see!
Tez86
i hope Torres goes to Chelsea with Scolari. Priceless.
los_angeles_villan
Yes I agree lets see how they like it when a 'BIG' club comes calling !!
If Barry wants silverware maybe he could play for our excellent reserve team.
scoops
our intertoto run begins in 5 weeks time, and players will return for preseason in 3/4 weeks time, so we should expect some signings within a week or two, as M'ON will struggle to get a squad of 18 with the current situation
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
eircol - please put me out of my misery the suspense is killing me. who are we signing then, lets see if your on the money!!!!!!!!
Stig
Eircol what week were you referring to? Cos if it is the end of this week just an evening and a day to go!!!!!
fatloser
dream scenario: Imagine the official villa website...BREAKING NEWS!!! Villa sign Boruc, Milner, Sidwell and Bullard. I think i would wee a little with excitement.
industrial_musical
Eircol,
I hope you are right!!!!!!
erv2005
I dont think many of us are suprised another week has gone without any signings, lets face it nothing is going to happen now...
Out of interest who do people think will be the 1st signing if or when that occurs?
Tez86
Lionel Messi(3 hub caps and a Twix), David Villa(swap deal for Carson cause they're worth about the same), David Silva(we'll give them Crouch for 5M plus David Villa, seems about right), Hatem Ben Arfa(swap for pennant), Kaka(swap for riise)...................................woooooooo, sorry about that. For a minute there I thought I supported Liverpool. ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay. On a serious point, I can tell you who our first signing won't be, Thierry Henry. Also we never sign anyone we are actually linked with. I think MON waits to see who the press think we trying to sign then deliberately goes after other players to confuse everyone. That's why he always does his business so late in the window. It's to eliminate the risk of signing someone that we've been linked with. Bearing that in mind, i'd like to take this opportunity to officially link us with Andriy Voronin and Emile Heskey.........hear that MON?? Now you can't possibly sign them and we can all sleep a little easier.
UTV
Before anyone corrects me on the above, clearly swapping David Villa for David Silva doesn't make any sense. In my defense I thought I was scouse for a minute and very little they do or say makes any sense. Clearly it should say Crouch for 5M plus David Silva
UTV
lol very good UTV. It wont be a big name signing unfortunately I imagine it will be someone from one of the big 4 and therefore not good enough for them or realistically us to challenge them.
Tez86
FYI, there are only 23 Manure fans, 34 Liverpool fans, 125 Arsenal fans and 174 Chelsea fans on this entire site. There are 338 registered Aston Villa fans. Do you think that all 23 of the ACTUAL Man Utd fans who can be found in Old Trafford on match days are actually all memebers of this site?? Lincoln have more registered members than Manure or Liverpool and Aston Villa have almost as many as Liverpool, Manure, Chelski and Arsenal all added together. Pointless post i know and granted it has nothing to do with transfers. But then, there aren't any transfers to discuss so the mind wanders. Besides, as my post above states, if we talk about a player then MON won't sign them. Perhaps the length of these transfer threads and the shear volumes of players discussed is actually the reason why we have hardly signed anyone?
UTV
Tez86, following your thoughts, Shaun Wright Phillips, Sidwell and one or 2 others would be fine by from the big 4. I think there are players within those sides who are good enough to help us challenge but the big teams signed them too soon in their careers and thus they have never been given the opportunity to displace a starting player and develop. That is particularly the case with SWP. He has the potential to be awesome but will continue to rot at Chelski. He was only just starting to show what he could do when they paid silly money for him. If they'd waited a season or 2 before buying him he would have slotted straight into their team no questions asked
UTV
Wong UTV. There are 3000 Villa, over 3500 Arsenal, 2000 odd Chelsea, not sure on Liverpool. You are looking at members league stats only.
The Fear
I can understand what your saying, and at the end of the day if they are not getting games then they wont improve, but I would like to see us go further a field having seen what the likes of ronaldo, torres and santa cruz can do. The EPL is widely regarded as the best league in football as a top 6 side in the team we should be able to interest players from the other leagues. Also our top four will over price thier own players just look at Liverpool... personally I dont rate wright phillips that much he is a lot older than a lot of people think and his end product is not the quality we need but I think Chelski will want £8-10milion for him.
Tez86
Just watching that Quaresma, he's awful. I hope we don't buy him. We've been after that Migeul, he looks alright to me.
evoflash
Wong? Man i hate being Wong :) So the rest of the members have never posted on the site? Why join if you're not going to contribute? I must admit, the low numbers did seem a little strange
UTV
Tez86, i agree completely. we should be looking much further afield. The majority of footballers in the World do not ply their trade in the UK. It would good if MON's transfer policy reflected that. Of course there is an argument that players with Premier league experience will settle faster. If MON signed players earlier than August 20th then that wouldn't matter because they would have a full pre season at the club
UTV
Bentley has just announced he wants to leave Blackburn. He said "The situation is I want to move on. I want to be playing Champions League football, or in Europe." Perhaps he was correcting himself when he realised Villa weren't in the Champs League yet!
evoflash
get Bentley now! :|
industrial_musical
When Bentley requested a transfer I think he had a top 4 club in mind.His attitude stinks I dont like him.
Pking
we're in Europe, Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal won't want him, Liverpool can't afford him that leaves us, Everton and Pompey with any chance. Why not, MON could sort that attitude out ;)
industrial_musical
question... do you think Bentley is worth more then Barry?? i think its a tough one to answer. bentley has age and potential on his side while barry is a proven performer..
aussie_villan
I would prefer bentley, more exciting to watch.
industrial_musical
I'd much rather have barry, Bentleys over rated, give me Milner anyday
PTP
PTP You may get your wish? hint hint....
Eircol
so how do you know were signing milner then eircol?
industrial_musical
Yea Eircol, stop teasing us!!!!!
erv2005
Nothing to do woth Villa, but do any of you know an Architectural Ironmonger who wants to work in South Wales, we need help, ha ha ha
erv2005
Bentley is a good player, he doesnt have a good attitude tho. Liverpool cant afford him City have probably a good shout with Hughes there and UEFA cup football. All in all he lacks pace which is something MON likes on his wings, we wont be bidding for him. More likely to go for SWP or Milner.
Tez86
As i said 2 signings by the end of the week.... you'll see
Eircol
Eircol, unfortunately your time is up (unless of course you were refering to the end of this week?)
fatloser
If you look at the comment i made, i did state the end of NEXT WEEK, which is of course this week, look back if your unsure....
Eircol
You said that last week!!! Come on Ericol stop pulling our leg I doubt we will sign 2 players 1 at the best...
Tez86
I am even more excited now!!!!
erv2005
Ok fair enough, apologies. I still dont reckon it will happen though...
Tez86
I do, and if it does, Eircol you better keep us in the know!!!!!As we are so frustrated!!!!
erv2005
I was just thinking of throwing another player in for your consideration - you will probably say no but go with me here. This is a BIG if!! IF O'Neill is going for a 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 (whatever way you want to look at it) rather than 4-4-2, he likes his big men up top - see Carew and Harewood. Now these players are hard to find - thats why we are linked with Crouch. Now obviously Koller is so similar to Carew its scary (would he fancy a move??) but there is a player similar to Crouch - who is younger and would jump at the chance of a move to Villa - that man is Kyle Lafferty from Burnley. He would be a big risk but Celtic, Rangers and Wolves have all had moves turned down. The asking price is £4m but surely they would take £3m and maybe a friendly or Isiah Osbourne on loan for a year. He aint gonna push us onto bigger and better things right away - but he has bags of potential and could be as good as Crouch. He would be a 3rd big man after Carew and Harewood. I just think we could do with another 'big man up top' and for the money there are few better.
deano.avfc
Let's hope Poland get knocked out of Euros tonight, then we can sit Boruc round the table and get him to sign ;D
DoLpHiNaToR
Eircol do you work at villa? are you MON in disguise? are you Randy in disguise.... the mystery needs to be revealed.........
industrial_musical
Who is everyones choice for Villa captain 08/09?? My vote goes for Laursen with Reo-Coker as vice captain!
deano.avfc
I'd say NRC. Too much risk of Laursen breaking. The captain needs to be ever preasant. Anyone who says NRC moans too much is talking about his time at West Ham where they treated him like *****. He's captained West Ham, he's captained England U21's and he's only 23. Make him Captain and we'll see his best season yet. I see him becoming the dominant box to box holding midfielder that every team who is taking the league seriously needs to have. That will allow us to replace Barry with more of an attacking threat than he currently provides
UTV
Reo Coker captained Wimbledon at 18. Hes captained every side hes played for, he pretty much captained us (vocally) last season. Get a right midfielder in alongside him and he'll actually have someone to pass to (over than melberg) and not get caught on the ball as he did several times every game. I think he'll really kick on, just needs some creative options around him. Van der Vaart would be superb in the middle, Milner or SWP on the right. And if the Boruc link isnt true then ive just blown my load for nothing, please God, grant us the holy goalie!!
MOGVILLA
Definitely give it to NRC - next season we will see his game go to a whole new level. Gareth who?
los_angeles_villan
Laursen gets my vote.
industrial_musical
I think it should go to NRC too, will be exceptional Leader!!!!
erv2005
NRC gets my vote . It makes perfect sense to have your captain in the middle of the park . He also talks alot on the pitch . Infact he never shuts up !
jaspervilla
I think NRC is the obvious choice for Captain. Moving back onto the transfer news. It appears Sidwell should happen this week. Maybe Eircol was right.
notthedougellisstand
Apparently we are the 1st to bid for Bentley, crikey boys lets hope this is true then we finally have some movement from VP.
Tez86
Very excited today. Sidwell, Bentley and Chimbonda. Three good-news signings for us.
evoflash
So the majority are on board with NRC then. I think Laursen would be great but i'm not confident in his fitness and I'm a much bigger fan of having a Captain in the middle of the park. Also, It's NRC who is vocal about Villa moving forward and his excitement about what is going on. I'd love his form to improve so much over the next season that he dilsodges Barry from the England setup. Now that would be sweet!!!
UTV
Evoflash, add Akinfeev to that list and i'll be a happy bunny
UTV
How funny would that be. Barry the bench-warmer to the Hokey-Cokey show.
evoflash
Yep, Sidwell to partner NRC in midfield and Chimbonda at right back sounds good to me. But I'd stuff the scousers both ways by insisting on cash for Barry and using it to get Milner at half the price of Bentley. Don't like Bentley's mercenary attitude, myself. By my reckoning getting Sidwell, Chimbonda and Milner for the price of Barry is good business and leaves the Luke Moore money plus the real transfer pot to be spent on Boruc (or Guzan) and a superstar. Happy days if that happens :)
AllanW
Or how about (fingers crossed) barry stays and Nige ousts SG out of the England side, then we can have an all Villa England Midfield with Ash & Bently!!!! (oh to dream!)
splatt
Miguel has stated he wants out of Valencia now. go get him MON!! thats RB covered with him and chimbonda and possibly hoyte. heard a possibility the bid for bentley rejected? milner for 9? not sure about that. if liver-poodle take barry, i still think 15-17 + benayoun/pennant would be an ok deal.
leftfoot
i hate this.... im so fecking nervous! wish we would sign somebody!!
industrial_musical
On to thread #3
attila11101
I would bentley would prefer milner but any threat down the right would be a vats improvement. It would take the pressure of young for a start. In the middle sidwell would be ok, I wonder how he will perform after barely playing for a year. I still think a diego or van der vaart type playmaker is what we need and another striker someone clinical who will get us 20+ goals. I cant see gabby or carew getting more than 15. Why we dont look aborad for signings is beyond me. Santa cruz, Ronaldo, Torres all from other leagues. We are a top 6 side in the best league in the world lets use that to draw payers in!
Tez86
Robinson. Chimbonda Laursen, Davies, Bouma. Bentley(milner) Sidwell, Hockey cock, Young. Gabby, Carew. And I would be deligted. but hopefully we could sign a striker and l. back, and right back and keeper as backup.. ok. the striker could be a big player, who could go straigt into the team.
Faroe_villa_rules
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