Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Saturday July 26 2008
Time: 1:50PM
UK time is: 01:28:59
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The Villa Transfer Thread - Part 7
Thread seven on summer transfers, so over 2200 comments so far and no signings!
Not to mention 109 pages in the forum! Click Here
I can't keep talking about being the optimist and by the end of this thread we'll have more, so I'll go all miserable and maybe that will get the players flying in!
Martin O'Neill was quoted last week saying qualifying for the Uefa Cup via the Intertoto Cup will do our chances of attracting the players to Villa Park no harm at all, so maybe it will all kick off next week after the Odense BK game?!
The Villa Summer Transfer Thread - Part 1
The Villa Summer Transfer Thread - Part 2
The Villa Summer Transfer Thread - Part 3
The Villa Summer Transfer Thread - Part 4
The Villa Summer Transfer Thread - Part 5
The Villa Summer Transfer Thread - Part 6
Once again, over to you Mr O'Neill !
IN -
Curtis Davies (from West Brom - £undisclosed)
Steve Sidwell (from Chelsea, £5.5m)
Brad Friedel (from Blackburn Rovers - undisclosed, in region of £2 - £2.5m)
OUT -
Luke Moore (West Brom - £3.5million)
Olof Mellberg (Juventus - free)
Patrick Berger (Sparta Prague - free)
Thomas Sorensen (released)
Think you could do any better? Prove it!?
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Your Comments
Sign a bloody RIGHT BACK!!!!
Sali Salifooooou
a GOOD one!
NorthcliffeBandit
oops any
happyvillan
ANT BLOODY RIGHT BACK!!!!!
happyvillan
BIG BRAD FRIEDEL HAS JUST SIGNED!!! Spend all week pressing refresh at work, Saturday afternoon having a cup of tea and BOOM! Here he is...great signing.
olafthegreat
Welcome Brad lots of clean sheets please !!!
scoops
Friedel in - another long transfer concluded - now onto the next 9 players we need!!
deano.avfc
Happy Dayz.
ThirtyOne
Great signing!!!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Wonder what Taylor is thinking with Friedel in the stands. He just made a great save!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Bouma has broken his knee! Noooooooo!!!!!!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Really gutted for Bouma! Looks like bringing in a left back is a priority as well now. No recognized/ natural full backs!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Oh god...we need a left back now. In 2 years or so we should have that position filled!
olafthegreat
we are going to get outpriced for fullbacks even more so now. deal with it MON. 2 Rb's and 2 LBs please.
los_angeles_villan
I feel bad saying this but I thought it was carew at first with the broken leg and I thought our season was over.
los_angeles_villan
Fatloser - looks like we're going to have to bid for Warnock now!!!!! ;-)
koolbill
that looked nasty. you could see it on the players faces, very reminiscent of the Eduardo thing for arsenal. here's hoping to a quick and speedy recovery.
united4life
OS say its a dislocation of his ankle rather than a break
Randy-Villain3293
MON sign Shorey and Mattock, job done for about 6/7m...SIMPLE!
son_of_cher
Well done for the lads, not the best we have ever played but got the result we needed. Warnock and Shorey in this week please we cannot start the season we 2 defenders. RIP Bouma.
Tez86
RIP bouma?? hes not dead!
Villa-in-my-Blood
Frank Quedrue for left back? ;-)
Sali Salifooooou
Hope bouma recovers as soon as is possible!!!, saw the match I think one of the most disturbing aspects of the game was the fact that we looked much better when Barry started playing. He was really calm on the ball and the team looked more confident when he started playing well, other players need to step up if he goes big time
AC-Villa
Credit must to go Barry, came on - and put in a solid performance!
Hope Bouma recovers soon - will be missed big time!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
One or two of those Odense lads look like they could be useful squad players,Absalonson performed really well.
Pking
That Frank Quedrue shout is not that desperate - at this stage with no full-backs I would be happy to see Quedrue and Carr in tomorrow while we work on getting Miguel and Shorey!!! Honestly, im not one for panic-buys but we need to get Shorey in early next week before the rest of the teams get in. Offer Reading £5m and get talking to him Mon morning. Signed by early afternoon. Come on MON. It must be!!
deano.avfc
i suspect reo-coker is not a natural right sided midfielder...
NorthcliffeBandit
Chimbonda to Sunderland...............what or who are we waiting on - if we failed in January to get him AND need him more now with Mellberg away AND did not seem to make a bid this summer WHY is he no good now!!! Hutton, Luke Young and Chimbonda all were available and ideal for the RB slot and we did not make a move. Now look - Miguel, Hoyte and Belletti would all be available for the right price - we need to move for one of them!!!
deano.avfc
weren't we linked to nelson a while back? i'd be as happy with him as with miguel
NorthcliffeBandit
nelson stayed at benfica. i still think Miguel will come, but there is some wishful thinking in that. we have to cover LB now, but glad Wilfs injury is not a break. dislocated ankles are not pleasant though. i hope MONs quotes about getting players after the uefa qualification prove correct and there is a flood of talent in the next fortnight, but i'd settle for a RIGHTBACK! or two...
leftfoot
realistically we'll need around 5 more players, if we're to survive any more injuries. cuellar at CB? miguel, shorey, de jong from hamburg and messi!??!
NorthcliffeBandit
deano.avfc, good point! why does it seem MON is looking for THE perfect solutions when we need cover quickly and in place fast. It doesn't matter if they are short term squad players so long as we have some options instead of playing current players out of position. I would love Miguel to come to VP but that if likely would take time so lets act and get squad players in please!!
holte ender 1969
I saw a comment a while back in this thread about us not seemingly being linked to any german players and why? Personally I think Per Mertsacker would be excellent addition to our defense and I think he can play both CB and cover RB (although not sure on the RB). Frings and Podolski would surely give us strength and quality. I'm not biggin up the krauts but just thought it strange that no one seems to be in for these guys. Unless I have spoilt the surprise MON? Oh fudge it, I have haven't I. Sorry!
holte ender 1969
At the Euro's - didnt M'ON and the rest of the BBC team slate the German CB's??? And i also remember him saying something about Frings in the first game, when he was picked to start ahead of Schweinsteiger -the comments he made gave the impression he isnt a fan of Fring's!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Ok, but maybe players can improve under MON. Just a thought eh. Maybe villa should have some sort of a feeder team abroad like some of the other big clubs do, unless we already have. That way our upcoming talent can get first class experience and MON can trial unknowns. As for the tranfer targets, I'm past caring as I just want action and places filled at the back.
holte ender 1969
Back after a weeks holiday, I'm pretty dismayed to see we've pulled in a 37-year-old keeper in the hook of a three year contract. I think it's great that Villa are embracing diversity and that age discrimination is off the table at Villa. Having a 40-year-old keeper is the stuff of dreams. __________________________________________________________________ The funny thing is that all through the holiday I avoided any mention of Villa, didn't look at the press, ignored that bar that had Sky Sports. Now two games in (feeling further back than when we started [Good luck Wilf]), I'm not impressed. I'd hoped in that week when the season got started we'd polish of the several deals we're so desperate for, alas I'm ever the optimist. All the talk and hype over the summer just hasn't come to fruition though. Our season has started. We're short on numbers. __________________________________________________________________ WHERE ARE YOU MR O'NEILL? ( Mr O'Leary wouldn't be shy - he got Leeds to within a hairs breadth of the CL final )
evoflash
KB you could well be right!!!!! Has Mattock signed for anyone yet from Leicester.... that would be a start. Lahm anyone (Can't defend but gets forward)
fatloser
Evoflash, glad you had a good holiday mate, but come on you brain has relaxed too much, you mention O Dreary in the same breath as MON, you must have been sniffing glue mate!!!! DOL bankrupt leeds with the help of risdale, we wont go that way I know, but dont you think MON has his targets lined up, the players/target may have been waiting for us to qulaify for the Uefa and then he can shore up all the deals. We have to have faith in the man, he knows our squad is weak he knows he needs to get them in by the start of the season, and the Freddie blow is anoter that he realises he has to sort out. I have faith you just need to be patient!!!!! Brad friedel has been the most consistant Gk for the Last 5 years and I am so glad we got him in, UTV
erv2005
FL - i'd have Lahm in a heartbeat boss. Shorey must be bought in asap. We musr sign hoyte and another LB - don't know F-all about this Miguel fella so I'm not gonna hype him as a possible signing. That just leaves Bent and Bentley. Oh and Guzan is defintely here come the meeting on Friday. Good luck Wilf.
koolbill
Look at the press today and it seems that the market is only just becoming active now. OK Hull have signed 7, but would we want any of them? Getting through the intertoto is a big step and should make a difference. Not only to the image but also to the need for more players.Next step i reckon is to get GB to commit to another year at least, then firm plans can be laid. Just imagine you are in MONs shoes. You can only spend the cash once. Is not right that you would want to know how your season is going to look before you plan your team?
Gordonsleftboot
very astute point made above.
Stig
MON should be getting Shorey's mobile number off Sidwell (not that I condone tapping up of players of course) and getting him in to VP ASAP now. He's only got 1 year left on his contract and surely would jump at the chance to come to us, play with his old mate Sidwell, be watched most weeks by the England manager, and challenge at the top of the premiership instead of the championship!
Jaytee247
Warnock is a good shout koolbill. Must say I'm as surprised as deano.avfc regarding Pascal Chimbonda. Just cant understand why we never made a serious attempt for him. Bad boy image admittedly, but one of the best premiership quality right full backs out there. Doesn't make sense.
glensider
Shorey is a good call as a left full-back, but given the choice I'd go for Warnock. Whether Blackburn would allow him to move on though is another matter.
glensider
Evoflash - what does Friedel's age have to do with anything? We've got three years of a fantastic keeper - what more do you want? Who else would you have bought instead? Friedel is a fantastic keeper - if we'd have had him last season we wouldn't have been playing in the inter twobob this month.
The Usual Suspect
erv - yeah I woke up this morning in a bad mood alright. Plane delays meant I got to bed at 4.30am and was up and awake at 9....writing Villa stuff...... Scrub that DOL comment. Mr O'Neill is 100 times better. __________________________________________________________________ TUS - I think Friedel can definitely do a job for us. This season at least. Beef number 1 is that I don't get the three year contract that's all. It seems extravagent to say the least. I don't blame BF for joining with that on the table. But to find myself coming back after a week where we've already kicked off the season - geting the job done against Odense, albeit not in the manner we'd prefer - and finding out that instead of the vital few positions filled (right back RIGHTBACK anyone!? leftback centreback) I find that we've signed Brad Friedel. I guess that's beef number 2, and is more down to my own internal excitment at being away from Villa for a week with plenty of time to figure out who we should have bought.
__________________________________________________________________ I don't know. I hate to get a bit down about it, but it all just seems YET AGAIN, a bit late in the day to be buying players. I really thought that the middle of July was when we'd get the squad together. Seeing the fixtures for the Villa made me think that was the ideal time to gel the new guys in and get the team focussed on each 90 minutes. __________________________________________________________________ I suppose on the plus side, it's nice to have a real decent keeper again. Scotty Carson just wasn't that guy was he.
evoflash
would like to think there will be significant movement this week, and now MON can show us and barry his ambition, we've got to go for shorey now him and freddie(when he comes back) fighting for the left back berth would be great competition, the sort of competition for places we need all over the pitch.
johnmurphy3112
Yea I think the next couple of weeks will be significant in our build up to the season and after the Friedel Signing ok 37, but a DAMN Fine Keeper, solid and dependable!!!!!
It will show other players Villa is the right place for them, got a strange feeling GB maybe here for next season and who knows by Jan, we may be forth and Liverpool 6th???? And he may realise he had a lucky break by not leaving!!!!!
Could you imagine, Shorey and Young together down the left and they say the left hand side is a bit suspect for the england team!!!! It would be magic!!!!!
erv2005
im torn on this, on one hand i would love to see us bringing in players to fill depth the problems in our team and im positive MON has made plenty of enquiries, some players may not have the right qualities to fit in with our team, others may of been overpriced i dont know at this moment in time i can only trust MON to do what he says we need to and now we are through into europe it can only help, on the other hand i am so happy we have the rarity of a manager who is actually reponsible with the funds given to him to spend and does not want to put us in trouble years down the road, remember MON wont be here forever and niether will randy's billions but aston villa football club will, and this responsibility being shown will ensure future success forever. who would ever of thought leeds would be where they are or to a lesser extent luton.
1982benny
bring in shorey... 3.5 mil plus add ons and mattock and when boumas fit again back into the centre with laursen if shorey is playing well.. probably only need 1 RB with Gardner as cover. MON should have someone in his sights been looking 4 long enough (i think chimbonda could have been good RB and CB cover but heard he wanted 50k+ a week crazy money for him).. RM needed what about silva from valencia.. nick him out from under the noses of the pool... talking 16mil which is a lot but 22 and already quality... id like another midfielder not sure if we need an attacking one with NRC, Barry, Sidwell as defensive options or a defensive with them as attacking options.. would love a proper number 10 like VDV or diego a real playmaker... still think Schwinstiger(?) worth a shout maybe even Podolski offer 20-25 mil for both BM might take it.. if we could get.. Shorey, mattock, RB, Schw, Podolski and another Mid dont think Barrys loss would be felt as much if he went..
aussie_villan
Warnock, Shorey, Hoyte and Mattock. Bentley could still be ours boys...starting to think that the lack of talk is down to contract negotiations.
koolbill
Alot of people on here are talking about Hoyte, never really seen him play myself is he actually that good ?
Anyhow didnt he say he wanted to stay and fight for a place at Arsenal as Wenger said that he will feature.
I definately think we should sign Shorey and Mattock but i really think that Blackburn would not want to part with Warnock and likewise with Warnock not wanting to leave Blackburn.
I agree that if we get a bid accepted for Shorey he will ring or talk to Sidwell - who really seems to like the club and would tell him nothing but positive things about us. Do we need a new striker, i mean i know we have alot more important things to be addressing but a decent striker would be a nice little bonus, or should Gabby still be in our first choice striking pair.
Randy-Villain3293
Blackburn won't let Warnock go, so don't bother. There is no way they are going to let Fridel, Bentley, Warnock and maybe even Santa Cruz go in one season....Shorey and Mattock should really sort out that position. We need to stop going for the best players of the teams around us. People need to stop suggesting players like Elano, Petrov, Pedersen etc. If those teams are trying to compete with us, what makes you think they are going to sell us there best players? Doesn't make sense.
los_angeles_villan
We need sto stop going for the best players of teams around us....ummm, we'll just stop that age-old tradition then mate? They are good and would improve us therefore they get suggested..like Friedel, Ash Young etc...If it don't make sense suggest some LA. Not haing a pop but if you're gonna highlight a areaa for development then you should input names / players too. It's mostly not up to clubs nowadays anyway...once the players says he wants to go it's all about the fee unless you're talking Ron or Kaka, jst look at Munich saying Hargreaves wouldn't go...wrong diddly wrong weren't they. We are better than Man C, Blackburn, Tottenham and that's why we should go for their players as they may actually want to come. What am i on about...give me Bardsley and Beattie instead...........;-) Randy-Villain - we definitely need a striker, I'd go for Bent, Seb Larsson and a mega cheeky no-chance bid for Frank Ribery.
koolbill
How poor is my spelling (rhetorical).
koolbill
Larsoons an awesome player hes a striker tho, is he ?
Suprised no ones made a move for Bent Spurs already said hes unwanted and surplus to requirements there ( as are most the squad it seems ) he proved at Charlton he was a good player and a goal scorer, god remember two seasons ago v Charlton at the Valley and Bent put us down 2-1 in the last mins. Good old Gabor "pyjama trousers" Kiraly was is in goal.
Neway .. i think MON should've gone for Zigic - again Valencia are in deep s*it and Zigic wants to come to the prem also i remember smeone posted a youtube video link with his best bits in and he looked like he can find the net.
How about Doyle from Reading ? They're relegated and said they wouldnt stand in Players way if a good bid was recieved. Any other realistic targets ? Apart from Ribery ;)
Randy-Villain3293
Regarding Larsson - he's not a striker sorry
Randy-Villain3293
I don't think Ramos will be looking to let Bent leave just yet, the future of Berbatov and Keane needs to be clarified first at Spurs. We do need another striker though, Gabby needs to be under some pressure and have competition. Many of the starting 11 are guarenteed starting places and you don't want players to take advantage of this and become complacent.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
i would have loved to of seen Podolski in a Villa shirt, and at one point he was considering him options. However Klinsman came in and won't sell him. Yakubu would be good, but that wont happen as well.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Koolbill I understand - Sure the players might want to come to us, but unless a request is put in - players like Warnock and M Petrov will not be allowed to leave to come to us because we are there direct competition, that's all. Believe me, I'd love them to come as well! I think we can get the same quality of players for cheaper from other leagues. I've been saying from day one we should go for Seb Larsson. If you want to know my realistic shopping list i'll give it to you kool bill : ). Shorey, Mattock, Miguel, Hoyte or Carr (free), Seb Larsson, Kallstrom if Barry goes, SWP, Bent or Podolski.
los_angeles_villan
Have we got any more preseason friendlies lined up?
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
One against Reading next Saturday
Randy-Villain3293
Then two weeks 'till the new season - I expect some players to be coming through the door in those two weeks so they're ready for the start of the season, as MON has said thats what he'd "ideally like" But that doesnt meen i don't think we'll be seeing any this week. Come on MON lets get the keep the signings going.
Randy-Villain3293
This is completley off-topic in all areas other than the fact it is Villa related but I have noticed that the new shirt is £45 on the OS - thats a lot of money I just wanted to point out that it is on sportsdirect.com for £36!! Usually I would like to buy direct from the club but with a baby daughter getting her first kit I was not just buying for myself this season. On that note - the infant kit is £30 on the OS and £20 on sportsdirect.com - and free postage. Oh and also they have the away shirts too. I will be sporting the away and my little girl will be wearing the home strip!!! I really am sounding like a scrooge (either that or a sportsdirect employee - I assure you I am not) but it cost me £56 and would have been £79.50 going through the OS!!!
deano.avfc
While on topic of shirts - what do you guys make of the nameless jerseys? I think I kind of like it. And when is the OS releasing the away kits?
los_angeles_villan
If I were Seb Larsson I would be begging to come to Villa. He already lives in Birmingham - it's a huge club in Europe and one of his heroes (Mellberg) not only played here for 7 years, but captained us. I reckon we could get him for 6.5mil. Eircol - go tell MON, you seem to know him.
los_angeles_villan
Off topic but thought it was worth a shout - I was at a club the other night and saw no other than the Cristiano Ronaldo surrounded by cameras and girls trying to sleep with him. God damnit I wish I was him. I think he likes it here.
los_angeles_villan
Mann it feels good to be able to say its a huge club AND that we're in Europe again. Awesome.
I hope LArsson does see it that way - good edition to the squad. I like the look of the nameless shirts quite retro
Randy-Villain3293
He can bloody stay there. Then he won't score any goals past us! You should work some magic on him, persuade him to stay in LA, better yet, have him sign for villa
NorthcliffeBandit
I don't want him here! Ship him back to Madrid! He's cocky and thinks he can get anyone he wants. He turned down Paris Hilton - not that I wouldn't as well- she has herpes, but you get the point.
los_angeles_villan
aye, tis a fair point, i stand corrected
NorthcliffeBandit
I'm not the biggest fan of Owen, but I bet he and Carew up top would be a great pairing. What do you think?
los_angeles_villan
Owen will never happen.. hes on 120k a week at newcastle and villa wouldnt even over him half that cuz it would throw out our wage structure and MON would have 2 go and offer wage parity to everyone else would cost way 2 much.. look whats happening at WHU..
aussie_villan
psh - Owen isn't worth 120k a week. Give him 50k and tell him to earn it. Frankly he hasn't.
los_angeles_villan
sign up tom hanks, he is a villa fan after all, and thats all that matters, does not need to know how to play or even be that good. i mean, we bought zat knight in that same way did we not. i want some *****in signings!!!
AussieVilla
Is anyone else worried/concerned we will have or should a rather say should have a completely differnt defence this season. With Brad in defence and (hopefully) 2 new full backs we have 3/5 new faces, now I know we let of goals in last season but with a mere 2 weeks to go and only 1 more friendly are we going to have enough time for them to settle together?! I think its widely known in football you want to change your back four as little as possible and when we have the donkey who is Zat Knight I can see us letting in lots of goals again...certainly in the first few games of the season! Would love to know if I am alone in thinking this?
Tez86
Tez86 you have got a point there, but with the squad we've got we'll have no choice but to field lots of new faces, I don't think it'll be too bad if MON buys british players but foreign players will def need time to bed in. I've heard curtis davies is nearing full fitness earlier than expected, that would be a big help.
johnmurphy3112
ok. now we are in the eufa i expect to see things hasten up on the transfer front.
Stig
I think we need a minimum of 2 defenders in this week. Shorey would be excellent and he can play agianst his former club in our final friendly as a send off. Lets hope Miguel is at Bodymoor now having a secret medical, or we have someone else lined up who can slip straight in with premiership experience. JohnMurphy I have heard somewhere Curtiis may even get a run out when we play Reading can anyone confirm if this is true or not?
Tez86
The Sun have us linked to Lee Naylor again are we that desperate for a fullbcack? Alryt as a squad player aslong as MON follows it up with Shorey
Randy-Villain3293
Got to buy 2-3 defenders of absolute quality...must buy a striker and one more midfielder to replace Barry...regardless of him maybe staying once January comes and the Scousers have saved all their Cash Converters money from nicked car radios and come sniffing; we are likely to get some pretty poor games out of him....Bent, de Jong, Bentley, Hoyte, Shorey.
koolbill
LA: nice team selection. Tez - I am starting to brick it but, I, like most Texans have blind faith - and I'm not even Texan! I've been tho. P.S. Scharner for 5m please!
koolbill
Any news on the Kaboul, Milner and full back sitautions? Any news Eircol? Anyone in the know from other clubs? I need cheering up after Freddie's injury.
tarzan
So sad Freddie is out. We are gonna miss him big time. MON needs to sign Shorey now and quick. I hope now we have moved to the next stage of UEFA Cup some players may be interested in coming. Friedel is an awsome buy, so glad he is here. Taylor is ok buy Friedel commands the penalty area so much better.
bellywipes
Expect a busy two weeks, that result the weekend will have a big impact on what will be done in the transfer market. the last few weeks of torment will be worth it. We will have a right back for the reading game on saturday
Eircol
Harry Redknapp now says he is 3rd in line for Kaboul behind Sunderland and us. On Saturday he said he had won the race to sign him! Don't know whether this is an old quote - on sky today - or what? Very confusing! Sky reported his comment on Sat also, so it must be genuinely current? Maybe Kaboul has changed his mind now we are in Europe and Harry has had to backtrack!
AVGD
On the Kaboul situation Harry redknapp has now come out and said hes third in the race to sign him behind Sunderland and Villa, despite srinking Moroccan tea with his parents last year. This comes after on Saturday he said he'd sign Kaboul.Confusing ? I think so.
Randy-Villain3293
I just said that...
AVGD
Yeah my bad beat me to it
Yours wasn't there when i posted it so
Randy-Villain3293
Eircol I presume you are referring to Craig Gardner!!!!
fatloser
No, a new right back..
Eircol
Name names then Eircol.
The Usual Suspect
Of course he has a name?
Eircol
Whats the chances of Shorey playing for villa against reading on saturday?!
johnmurphy3112
Tell us his name Eircol.
The Usual Suspect
Eircol, any progress on the Milner and Miguel situations this week? Can you enlighten us on the Kaboul situation? I presume Bentley is dead in the water?
tarzan
Lee Naylor and Finnan as part of the Barry deal
tarzan
Lee Naylor is a big no no..........he is crap
bellywipes
Eircol you always mumble on and on. Always vague. Show us what you really know with some hard evidence like giving us names for example!!!!!!
bellywipes
Potential opponents for UEFA 2nd Qualifing Round, none of which strike fear into the hearts, SHOULD be plain sailing into the group stages. http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3877
AVFC-BrightFuture
Bellywipes - don't be silly. Eircol knows no more than my gran does. I ask him for a name and he says, "Of course he has a name!" Not really much of an answer to my question is it?
The Usual Suspect
Okay villa were looking at the left back position before the bouma injury, nothing concrete on this guy yet, but you never know.. his name Marcell Jansen..
Eircol
What's the news on Kaboul and Milner?
tarzan
The bentley thing is not dead and buried yet, so the milner deal is still on ice as far as i am aware.
Eircol
What about the right back you're certain we'll have in for the reading friendly?
The Usual Suspect
Eircol, keep it comin! Whether you know anything or not it's great entertainment, and truth in links of us to kaka?
NorthcliffeBandit
any not and! D'oh
NorthcliffeBandit
Marcell Jansen - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcell_Jansen
Mutley73
Having read the profile, he would definitely fit the bill! Not heard any other rumours about him though, so definitely a feather in Eircol's cap if it turns out to be true... Much grief in his ear though if it turns out to be b****ks!!!
AVGD
jansen: young, attacking, pacy, and at 6ft 3in he should add another giant to our already dangerous set pieces! excellent news if accurate
NorthcliffeBandit
I will still get grief if it comes off..
Eircol
Marcell Jansen (born November 4, 1985 in Mönchengladbach) is a German professional footballer, famous for accurate crossing and quick pace, despite his height - hes 6'3 (191cm) which is good..
BUT
Jansen cost BM 9mil euros in 2007 hes young which is good but only means he will cost us more...
aussie_villan
fiorentina have bought gilardino, so pazzini surplus to requirements? he scored a hatrick against england under 21s in the first game at the new wembley
NorthcliffeBandit
P.S. I just beat Manure 12-1 in the European Cup final on Pro Evo. Is this a sign?
NorthcliffeBandit
Congrats Eircol on naming a "target" maybe I have been harsh in judging you sceptically as a "State the blindingly obvious but get the dates slightly wrong fella". Mind you if it doesn't come off i might just regress again!!!!!
fatloser
You'll get grief if we sign a right back in 2 weeks time and then you claim thats the one you refused to name. Its hardly rocket science claiming we're looking to sign a right back sharpish. If this Jansen comes off I'll be impressed at your source, but you haven't given any piece of information yet that didn't come the mornings news.
The Usual Suspect
Eircol I take back my earlier comments, however if this is more rubbish i will slate you good!!!! LOL
bellywipes
Jansen was another one of the German back four that MON was not impressed by. He had a nigh-mare first two or three games (especially v Croatia) and was axed and only brought on as a late sub in the Final. Entertaining maybe but no truth
Randy-Villain3293
Asier Del Horno for Left back maybe.. been transfer listed by valencia.. maybe offer 30mil for him, Miguel and Silva.. i think would be a bloody good deal for us (LB,RB and RM) and they need the money.. just a question on how much they would want in wages...
aussie_villan
Also an issue on whether or not they want to come to us.
The Usual Suspect
Bayern only bought Jansen 12 months ago and with all the rumours on Lahm laaving will he really be allowed to go? Would be great if he did as he looks class but seems doubtful.
Jaytee247
See on skysports.com we have made a bid of £9.4m for ruben de la Red
happyvillan
cant see that anywhere, can you post the link?
johnmurphy3112
found it http://www.skysports.com/football/transfer_clockwatch/0,23710,14896,00.html
johnmurphy3112
It's on their transfer clockwatch.It seems to be a Spainish newspaper report.
happyvillan
It would, I think, be a very useful addition.
happyvillan
robbie keane is now a livepool player!!! 18 mil is the transfer fee. wait wasnt that money for a certain midfielder they have been chasing since the dawn of time?
Villa-in-my-Blood
De La Red would be a fantastic signing. However, I really thought we would only make a move if Barry was sold. Maybe O'Neill realises he needs a SQUAD and not a TEAM!!! Good man - now lets complete the set 2xRB, 1xLB (or 2 leftbacks if one of the two RBs can do a good job covering both flanks), 1xCB a RW and a CF. Miguel, Mattock, Shorey, Kaboul, Milner and Pazzini - but I really can would be great. The Del Horno shout is a great one - he was very good at Chelsea but has not had a great time in Spain - surely he would jump at the chance!!! Also heard a whisper about McGeady at Celtic - I do not watch much Scottish football but I hear that him and Scott McDonald are their best players. Is he much use??
deano.avfc
I thought Del Horno was shocking at Chelski and he did not settle....If you cannot settle in the playground of the rich and famous there is no hope for you in Brum!!!!
fatloser
Dioufs swapped Bolton for Sunderland.
MOGVILLA
sky sports.com are saying we're after a player called Badr El-Kaddouri a left back from dynamo kiev.
johnmurphy3112
McGeady is awesome but won't leave Celtic hes just signed anew-five year deal Sunderland failed to get him i think. Likind the De La Red link but Spanish newspaper? If the owner of a Spanish club lied about us bidding for a player, how reliable is a newspaper. But really hoping its true !
Randy-Villain3293
I don't no how much truth there is in the De La Red rumour, didnt Madrid just buy him back from Getafe? Would be a promising signing though!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
He was on loan there last season
Randy-Villain3293
deano, nice list! good, achievable and quality players, but im no longer sure about SPL players, Petrov was top class there...
NorthcliffeBandit
I've watched McGeady playing for Ireland. I couldn't see what all the fuss was about. He looked very poor to me. ___________________________________________________________________ Is anyone else getting more and more angry with Rafa Benitez? Is he just swanning around flagrantly violating the rules? Hasn't he just done to Spurs what he's doing to us? When is someone going to do something?
evoflash
Like post a man on a grassy knoll just outside anfield?
NorthcliffeBandit
De la Red wasn't on loan, it was a condition of his contract that Real had an option to resign in first two years. They have either done that to realise a profit or because they intend to play him. From his point of view, first team in the EPL has got to be more appealing than squad in La Liga, but if Arse are seriously interested we may struggle.
azreal13
A GRASSY knoll? Just outside Anfield? You might be able to find a concrete bollard lol!
BobTheBuilder
i think Jansen was mostly rubbish at the euros, but he has a deft touch at times. the LB moroccan from dynamo kiev looks tough and more in the Bouma mould. De la Red would be a great addition. Shorey, Miguel, Mattock, and i am unsure about Kaboul. the idea of a bunch deal for Miguel and Del Horno sounds reasonable, but Silva won't come here. Rafa the waiter continues to display signs of an idiotic nature.
leftfoot
Im *****ed because how can crap teams like sunderland and fulham land chimbonda + diouf and andy johnson and we cant sign a damn thing?? with abit of luck we will get one fringe player at the 11th hour before the window closes. WE ARE NOT GOING TO LAST WITH LESS PLAYERS THAN WE HAD LAST SEASON
AussieVilla
Heh, I recall from MON's time at Parkhead that signings often dragged on!
Still, it looks more and more like your captain is going nowhere especially since Liverpool just dropped 20m on Keane.
jouster
aussie- they can take diof and johnson - that won't improve our team. Chimbonda I would have taken tho.
los_angeles_villan
you dont reckon los_angeles? If any of them we would need chimbonda as a natural rb...apparently were in for some el-kaddouri bloke, lb for dynamo kiev. Is he any good?
AussieVilla
Yea, like I said - I would have taken chimbonda, but attitude probably would have been detrimental to the dressing room. I have no information about this guy el-kaddouri. Maybe backup to Shorey, who would be back up to Bouma eventually. He's a gamble I'd say, pending on how much we are in for him.
los_angeles_villan
It turns out villa were looking at lahm, but they where knocked back and offered marcell jansen, looks as though this one is a non runner..
Eircol
Anyone know who has our UEFA Cup TV rights?? Channel 5? Setanta? Sky??
deano.avfc
i know itv are showing the man city games for the first qualifying round, so i guess they will be showing the eufa cup games
Eircol
Oh the joys of sunny David Pleat. How he sends me to sleep.
The Usual Suspect
Any bloody full backs please aagghhh!!!!
TMorley
Don't be stupid - WE NEVER COMMENT ON PLAYERS - EVER. Unless to sat we aren't interested.
koolbill
Are we still interested in Kaboul and Malbranq??
tarzan
OH GREAT. BBC is carrying a headline that Spurs are in talks with Blackburn about Bentley. They say no bid has been agreed, but talks are ongoing. :-(
evoflash
Evo - MON has stated that we wouldn't pursue it further. Bentley does not want to join us for all the tea in China. Spurs will still be worse off even if they land Bentley.
tarzan
I didn't see where DB said he wouldn't join us? Have been away for a week though. Things are not looking good at the moment. I'm sure Mr O'Neill has plans afoot.
evoflash
tarzan if he's not pursueing him, then who are we pursueing? there seems to be very few rumours, talks or bids going on. 19 days til the season starts and we're about minimum 6 players short including positions where we have no recognised fit players at all.
johnmurphy3112
Bentley can't comment on this openly or it would cost him a lot of money in wages and disengage the Blackburn fans and club. It was open secret that he wants to go back to London, a lot of players do. Our bid was rejected outright. You can be sure if we'd got positive vibes from the player or people around him - MON would be in there like a shot. As far as other targets go: I think the Barry saga is causing us problems , as it affects who we bring in. Ferdinand, Milner, SWP are my only ideas but I'm scraping the barrel there.
tarzan
"Blackburn are in talks with Tottenham over the transfer of England midfielder David Bentley and that should spell the end of Aston Villa's interest in the winger." Direct quote from that rag The Mercury today. MON's interest ended a couple of weeks ago when he catorogically stated we moving onto other targets.
tarzan
I still can't believe how many goals we conceded last year. Mellberg, Davies/Knight, Laursen and Bouma must be the best back four we've had for ages, yet still proved leaky. It shows the worth of a quality keeper. I blame Carson - simply not good enough yet. Lets hope Friedel can change things...
NorthcliffeBandit
shorey (5). mattock(2), miguel (8), de la red(9), Podolski (15), schwinstiger(10), hoyte (5), plus a CB - Scharner or one of the guys from BMunich () (5-7).. cost -- round 60mil... take the squad to around 30 and would give us good depth.. Starting Lineup... Freidel, Miguel, Laursen, New CB, Shorey (Bouma), Schwinstiger, De la Red, Barry, Young (in a diamond barry DM) Podolski, Carew
aussie_villan
Farfan, Kompany and De Jong anyone?
NorthcliffeBandit
aussie - no Davies?
NorthcliffeBandit
I thinkat the moment we are falling even further behind Liverpool, we need players of top quality asap and if we need to pay through the nose thats what we should do. Lets offer the asking price for Bentley to show our intention and ambition if he decides not to come then fine. Im trying to keep the faith but its NOW really time to show our true ambition.
astonsteve
Davies is injured atm.. but i should have put him in brackets like i did with bouma though ur right.. Farfan has already been sold this window doubt he will move again.. Kompany would be good i think... De Jong would be a good signing 2 esp if we loose Barry - - he is a DM and also a RB so could cover there as well.. maybe instead of Hoyte...
aussie_villan
aussie.... Wake up you are dreaming!!!!!!! And one of the German centrebacks... I think not their defending in the Euros was hilarious.
Friedel, Gardner, Laursen, Davies, Shorey, NRC, Sidwell, Petrov, Young, Carew, Agbonlahor.... thats your first team and if we are lucky maybe a recognised right back and GB stays. You heard it here first!!!!
fatloser
i think if we sign a really quality left back who plays really well while bouma is out we can move Bouma into the center with laursen when fit again as i think he is better then davies atm..
aussie_villan
fatloser.. no i'm wide awake.. can't type in my sleep... go back to your own vital board.... BTW.. nice username... not sure about the first bit having never seen you, but the last bit fits perfectly...
aussie_villan
Sorry lads but its dreamland as it stands this is the team; Friedel, reo-coker(LB), laursen, knight, gardener(RB), young, sidwell,petrov,maloney,carew,gabby. cant include barry as we don't know where he'll be, so with players playing out of position and the subs lacking experience looks like its going to be a interesting season. I know that villa are trying to add to the numbers but for me there is no decent rumours, no bids, no talks and 19 days til the season starts. Barry wont stay as we are not showing any ambition and I wouldn't blame him this time. other teams are improving and we are not. It's time for action or else it will be too late. And just to top it, come january one of the big 4 will go for Ashley he's our shining star but why would he stay? sorry its doom and gloom but there's not alot to get excited about.
johnmurphy3112
A little less of the personal abuse aussie please I was just intimating that the players you had been mentioning were a little out of our league and that in a "dreamworld" or championship manager world they would be targets not unfortunately in the current Martin O'Neil world. I apologise if I caused offence but at no stage did abuse you and would ask that you offer me the same amount of respect....Thankyou.
fatloser
Oh and I forgot this is the board I post on check out the forums.
fatloser
johnm - we will sign more players. The club keeps its cards close to its chest, just cause there is no more BS paper stories doesn't mean the work isn't going on quietly behind the scenes.
The Usual Suspect
I understand that and I like the fact we are a club that doesn't mouth off or disrespect other clubs by disrupting players. But what I'm trying to say is that we are so short of players and barry may still go, we should have filled some gaps by now namely the RB position which has been vacant for over a season now (not including Olaf he was a CB). And what about players settling in, tactics, bonding? if we were to buy 6 players tomorrow we may not get the best out of them til christmas.
johnmurphy3112
I've just listened to Fridel's interview on AVTV and he made a comment which was very uplifting. I am just as frustrated as everyone and have been checking every source possible looking for transfer news and keep getting let down and deflated. However, the comment in question went along the lines of "we have a group of quality players here, on top of the quality players we are aslo trying to get in" This to me sounds like MON has told Fridel exactly who his targets are and for a fellow professional to ay "they are quality" they must be of a high calibre. If they weren't he wouldn't have said anything about new signings and maybe wouldn't have signed in the first place. I appreciate MON has still got to get these "quality" signings in but I am much more upbeat. I just wish I could fast forward to August 31st!!
In MON we trust!
i have said this before but it seems appropriate again..we always know whos coming in for at least 2 weeks prior to them arriving..recent examples being friedel and sidwell then look back to nrc,davies,young we knew they where going to sign but it took forever to see them in the shirts...now can anyone tell me who we know we are going to sign because what worries me is that there is nothing imminent,no really strong links so by my reconing we will have no more signings confirmed in the next 2 weeks which i believe is unacceptable..........
avflell
avflell, you're right but remember when MON said he might sign 7 in one day? wouldn't that be great if it was tomorrow?!
johnmurphy3112
The longer the wait the more depressing we all seem to get. Why the wait can anyone really say. We are officially in europe aren't we?, we have been assured funds are in place and yet we see no firm bids or even rumours and not even a sniff of a loan! Ok MON may like to play his cards close to his chest but then what kind of hand is he going to put down on the table. IMO we need a full house to even compete and that's before the start of the season. When/if these new signings come, when will they get match pratice and fitness with only 1 friendly match left to play (Reading). All of the grief with the GB saga will pale into insignificance (sp) as we struggle to field a strong team with natural positions filled. AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!
Eircol, please give us some rumours so we can cling to something positive.
holte ender 1969
Maybe MON is having "cups of tea" with potential transfer targets parents, just like old Arry boy!
holte ender 1969
shorey, milner, hoyte, miguel, de la red. in the bag!
leftfoot
leftfoot, I hope so although Miguel looks a long shot and may take longer if indeed we are at all in for him. Shorey in by the end of the next week hopefully, after he parts Reading with his last game against us. A surprise move for Belletti of Chelski would be good. Looked superb before he went to Chelsea's bench and would be a class act for us and strengthen our defence. Whilst at the bridge we can take long term target SWP off their hands.
holte ender 1969
Everyone needs to stop there futzin whining. I'm absolutely sick to my stomach with the amount of ridiculous negativity on this site. Do you HONESTLY think we are going to start the season with what we have? NO. Do you think MON made it this far by acting like that? NO. He will get the job done, just relax a bit and stop complaining because you don't hear a rumor or a bid. That doesn't mean anything, 98% of rumors are false anyway! We've got the money, we've got the manager, we've got the owner, we've got money, we've got UEFA - players will come. You don't need Eircol to whisper educated guess's in your ear to make you feel better.
los_angeles_villan
Thats the most sense I have heard from across the pond in a long while. There may be a place in politics for you!
Gordonsleftboot
Ha! Please don't associate me with U.S Politics... He's not my president! I sure as heck didn't vote for him.
los_angeles_villan
lav, whining! Listen, I and every other genuine supporter are getting frustrated and who are you to say stop whining. I am welcome to my opinion aren't I! So back off and stop being the yanky bully that you are. There is a concern that transfer targets are not happening quick enough and that concern (not panic) is spread across these pages. Eircol offers a different dimension to this site and I for one welcome him and any other as at the end of the day, we are all cheering for the same team. You always strike me as too quick to judge and its not the first time you have done so to myself. Politicians often sit on the fence and are very diplomatic..................you sir are certainly not!
holte ender 1969
Fear, may I suggest a post as to how many villains are happy with this summers signings so far and are we right to demand more activity in the market as promised.
holte ender 1969
Holte ender 1969 I think you know the result of that poll already.
happyvillan
Calm down boys were all on the same side here. While I am fustrated and concerned as anyone with the lack of activity its the results at the end of the day, MON has brought them in abundance over the last few years and although I cant help thinking what if we had bought in January or had a RB last season as long as we do the same or better this year I will be very happy. Still a couple of signings this week would settle some nerves for all of us...!
Tez86
i think Sidwell, Friedel and Guzan is a great start. Belletti is a good idea HE1969, does scolari want him? yr right about Miguel but because its been quiet may not be a bad thing. i would love to see some spanish/portugese flavour at Villa. so yeah, bring it on MON, Miguel and De La Red. Nice.
leftfoot
There isn't even any rumours today, lav you say stop whining but while spurs are buying arshavin and bentley, we still haven't even got a full back, I feel fustrated at the lack of activity, when will it happen?!
johnmurphy3112
Agree with the above and good comments tez86. Frustrations come out in many ways and we are all guilty of having a lash out from time to time. Villa is a passion and I would happily whinge all day if I thought for one moment that it would get us somewhere! C'mon MON lets see you prove our critism's wrong and please sign the quality we need. Up the Villa.
holte ender 1969
While I think it could take all of Spurs new foreign signings the majority of this season to bed in (think of Henry, Pires, Drogba to name a few) and get used to the Premiership there is no doubt they are buying world class and making progress with their squad early on, while we seem to be waiting for the last week of August sales as per usual. I'm just waiting for MON to come out with "the deadline closes on the 31st of August etc etc" which is true but which also means that we will have already played 3 games in the Premiership, our next 2 UEFA games and any last ditch signings will have missed the pre-season with all of the associated, bonding, getting used to tactics etc. It is this lack of urgency which concerns me most as worst case scenario (although doubtful I admit) is that come the end of the window we have lost 9 points and and are out of the UEFA because we have no full backs, no RM, no genuine goalscoring striker, kids on the bench, and a threadbare squad. Yes I agree we do things properly and professionally with transfers, but lets do things properly and professionally AND quicker and more often!!!!!!
Jaytee247
Love to know if we really pulled out of the Bentley deal due to price or just because he wants London....goddammit this summer could have been so much better for us if only Chelsea hadn't balls'd up the Carling Cup final.....then Tottenham wouldn't be able to compete so far ahead of us in the market.....not sure about 4th place, but at the moment I think we'd struggle to beat any of Tottenham, Portsmouth, Everton & Man City into the sub-4th places..!
YatesyVillain
Have villa got a director of football like most clubs, who helps with transfers etc?
johnmurphy3112
Rumours are drying up, nothing on newsnow. We need defenders in as a matter of urgency and getting them in last minute will do them no favours either. Most teams build from the back up and plonking a couple of defenders in last minute with no bedding in time is absolutely ludicrous. But that's what we're looking at, as time goes by obviously the less time they will have to train and know each others game. I for one am losing patience. Smallest team last year and smallest team this year.
villain76
I never thought I'd ever say this but I like the way Fulham are rebuilding, Hodgeson brought in some decent players this transfer window and looks like they've got Gomez for £15 he's a decent player. Don't think they'll be strugglers this season.
johnmurphy3112
I think the Friedel signing had something to do with us pulling out of the Bentley deal.
gappy65
newsnow says kaboul has gone to pompey, another one bites the dust!
johnmurphy3112
Have faith fellow Villians! MON has done us proud to date, I have no reason to think anything else at this stage. I admit more activity would be nice. MON does things his way. I for one have every faith. We must give the man time to fail, if indeed he does fail!
gappy65
Any player bought for £15 is a good deal by me. What next? finnan to villa for a pack of chewits? :)
villain76
Gappy I don't think Friedel coming had anything to wIth Bentley, Robinson did! Now Spurs have signed Bentley you can see Balckburn siging Pennant and Barry getting his dream move. Any news today Eircol? shorey and Milner?
tarzan
Sidwell and Friedel signed and said the ambition of M'ON and RL for the club, the ambition to break into the top 4 is what made them join Villa. These two players are top notch, and wouldnt have joined if they thought Villa could not break into the top 4. Friedel is a player coming to the end of the career - if Man City were more of an attractive team to join, just because they have been linked to Ronaldinhio and signed another Brazillian - surely he would have wanted to talk to Hughes if he felt he had a better chance of playing CL football there.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Friedel did have a little part in the Bentley transfer. Ince had stated before that he wasnt interested in Robinson and he wanted to keep Friedel. Had Friedel not of requested a transfer - Ince would not have moved for Robbo, and therefore would not have lowered ther price for Bentley. Either way, Spurs would have got him eventually - they just got £20mil for Keane - so there's plenty of money there. I wonder what the latest is on Bent's future now with Spurs? He would be quality - watched the Spurs highlights against Norwich where he scored 3/4 and he looked sharp and very clinical
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
SSN claims that RVDV is close to joinin Madrid, so IF there is any truth in the De La Red rumour - then he may become available
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
John.Carews.Crew, Bent did play a blinder against norwich and scored 4. Unfortunately for you guys he will not be sold as we have already lost Keane and there is every chance Berba will go. That would leave just Bent so anyone thinking that he will go as well is mental.
Do you guys still think liverpool will get Barry now? i really cant see it as i dont think they have the money at all. Remember they have now spent about £30 million or so on about 3-4 players
spursfan4eva
Liverpool still have a chance of getting Barry if they still really want him. Funds are limited for them, if Alonso, Pennant, Finnan, Voronin leave they may be able to get the funds to make another bid. The Barry saga will not be over untill a) Barry has a change of heart and says he wants to stay, or b) Liverpool come out and state they are no longer interested in Barry
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Does anyone think that Friedel may be considered for captain with his experience? He is already making a good case for himself with the positive PR he is giving the club. With the few statements he has made to the press I already feel better about 'THE PLAN' that MON and RL are said to have shown himself and Sidwell. If you remember MON said that the captain may not yet be at the club. I personally think that he will be far better than Carson at organising the defence and giving them a kick up the a**e if they let too much through.
fredchuff
He is certainly an option for captain - M'ON has highlighted his personality in the dressing room and no doubt he can be influential on the pitch, and he has also captained Blackburn. However i personally feel that an outfield player should be given the captains arm band, BUT if Friedel does get it, he will definately get my backing!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Well it looks now as if Barry is on his way. Perhaps this ball & chain means we can get on with our buying. £19 mil + Finnan by the way, that is not bad is it?
ThirtyOne
Malbranque having medical at Sunderland today. He will just be another on the list of 'I Wish We Got Him' this summer. But he will be number 1 on mine. He plays anywhere across the midfield, he is an attacking influential player in the Merson-mould. Along with Keane he was Spurs' best player last season. He is a great player and we missed out on him and Chimbonda. I tell you Sunderland are close to that quadruple swoop and tat will be a steal for them!!! I wish we got them.
deano.avfc
17.5 million plus finnan is a good deal in my book. Now we can say thanks gareth enjoy the subs bench and get stuck into the transfer market ;) de la red would be a welcome addition. i think the next 2 weeks will be very interesting indeed. providing the daily mail article is the real deal.
villain76
RIGHT THEN - now Barry is off and we have NOT made moves for Chimbonda or Malbranque MUST mean Miguel and de la Red are in the bag - lets get a move on and get a few more in!!!
deano.avfc
oh a**e looks like he's off then. Right MON had better get spending, he's got an extra £17.5m to spend now. How on earth will he manage to spend it in only the 1 month! Defensive wise I'll be much happier though with Finnan on board, much, much happier. Wasn't really the news I was hoping when i checked newsnow but overall if its true then its not a bad deal at all. Just ashame he didn't want to stay. UTV!
tonybrum
Jeez, Fulham have just signed their 2nd rightback this summer, Fredrik Stoor from Rosenborg. That's 8 players and they may also get Gomez & Johnson. Praying that MON is planning to pull a whole family of rabbits out of a very large hat very soon!
Jaytee247
SSN have confirmed Bentley has completed a medical at Spuds and is expected to play for them in a friendly against Celtic on friday. Are spuds a better proposition for players than Villa and if so why, is it purely this damn London factor?? This is all getting very depressing now, all our prem rivals seem to be snapping up players making me for 1 very nervous about the comming season which is now only weeks away. Please Mr O'Neil, help me out here and get some numbers in
AVFC-BrightFuture
We're yet another player down now, a jokes a joke we really need to be bringing in some players now, I feel that maybe we didn't have a transfer fund at all and we were relying on money from the Barry deal. I know there was lots of talk of Randy's millions but were is it? The scousers were supposed to be skint but yet they have spent £40mill in two days. AVFC is turning into a farce we're down to 16 recognised pro's and 18 days til season start.
johnmurphy3112
its being denied now from villa and the barry camp.
johnmurphy3112
Sign a RB MON. A right back. A f&%k!n right back. A right sided defensive player. A right back. A bloody RB! And a LB. Bouma is *****ed so we need a left back. A player to stick at the left hand side of the defence. A Fr!ckin left back. And a right winger. And another striker. Show Knight some Paul Mcgrath videos. If you require anything of the above spelt out please e-mail me to threadbaresquad@nervousfans.co.uk.org.
Mayo_12
Whats the source for the barry leaving quotes? Is it reliable?
NorthcliffeBandit
Agree Mayo-12 ive had enough, we are not bringing in enough quality or quantity, i dont blame Barry i would want to go to Liverpool they are showing there ambition they have just spent 20 mil on Keane, i cant even be bothered to write anymore so *****ed off with this transfer window VILLA GET ARSES INTO GEAR AND SIGN SOME ******** PLAYERS PRONTO BEFORE WE BLOW OUR SEASON IN THE FIRST MONTH. RANT OVER.
astonsteve
oh well i guess we will see if MON is a man of his word now
1982benny
Amen Steve.
Mayo_12
A little birdie told me that the medical staff at Villa advised MON that Bouma should not play on Saturday as he was not fit, but he chose to play him. Obviously nothing to do with the ankle injury though.
KSarge1
Phooook me I'm dpown about all this....ever since we only got Routledge in I've been deliberating whether we are just not very good at multiple transfers, whether the money has run out or if we are just not a good prospect.....please MON, get them in, getting rid of dead wood is okay but leaving us open to clubs hiking their prices up because we have a threadbare squad is unaccpetable...no RB...no LB (not including reserve team or Gardner)...striker light...poor poor scenario....MONhas done great in league position but solidify now we need so many players it's untrue....Liverpool have lost 8 and bought 8.....we've lost ?????? and bought ????.
koolbill
Im trying to keep the faith but this is getting ridiculous! Spurs, Man City, Sunderland, Pompey and EVEN Fulham have made signings which I personally think would have been perfect for us! What are we doing?!?!?! Why havent we got these supposedly quality additions players tied up yet?!?!? Im sooooooooooo frustrated!! Fear, is there any chance of you getting some comments from the General on the current state of affairs?? We need to know what is going on. I really am concerned with next season. We still havent got a right back, a fit decent centre back to partner Laursen, a fit left back, a right midfielder, an attacking midfielder who can unlock defences and a striker who can score goals!!!! On top of that our best player and club captain is leaving! What is going on ffs!?!?!!?!
In MON we trust!
I've totally lost faith now, I remember we used to moan about the Ellis era, but it was never this bad (transfer wise) he used to moan about money but we always had a full decent squad, Is Mr Lerner any better than the scousers duo? probably not the reds duo have given some money, what have we seen in the last year.... routeledge, davies, sidwell and friedel about 17/18 mill not really showing too much ambition there. where's this famous ambition from MON a late bid for kaboul, 1 bid for bentley then give in, all around us are improving we've gone backwards.
johnmurphy3112
latest: This evening, Aston Villa can announce that Gareth Barry will be staying with the club following the interest from Liverpool over recent months.
During discussions in the past few days, a final deadline to conclude this episode was set that all parties were aware of and agreed to. This deadline has now passed and so Gareth will remain with Villa.
villain76
going, staying, going, staying...expect another statement soon...and most probably not about new signings either.
villain76
WOW - so is Barry staying or is this another bargaining tool where we say we are in control but will cave when the next offer comes forward. If not we need Gareth himself speaking to the press and fans telling them the truth, signing a new contract and apologising to MON and us fans for some of the comments he has made. Liverpool chose to spend their money on Keane not Barry. I am sure no Villa fans would have traded Keane for Barry. I am sure every Villa fan would give their right nut to be in Barrys position. Enjoy it mate and lead us to Champions League!!! Screw Liverpool.
deano.avfc
Sh1t Villain76 I thought you were joking but I've just checked the official site and it's true!! There you go, club captain is staying after all!
In MON we trust!
I couldn't meself, what a day, i'm glad he's staying but like above has said we need a statement off Barry just to see where his heads at. Amazing day really but takes nothing away from the fact that this whole transfer saga has been nothing short of a shambles.
villain76
Oh it goes on...http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1491277.ece...negotiations still on goin!?? wtf?? this is crazy.
villain76
WHo knows. I think we are going to have to wait and here from the man himself (over to you GAZ BAZ)
azton villain
breaking news GB staying! i am soooooooooooo chuffed with villa for standing up to those scouser muppets!
ric112
Lets look at this as if we had a top new player signing. Lets get the apologies over quickly, move on and knuckle down to the graft than we need to get the season off to a flyer. If he goes next year at least we will be ready for it. If GB (and us) can get his/our heads out of our arses we have a chance to make up some of the lost ground from this closed season. At least we won't have to settle him in to how things are done at Villa Park as with new recruits!!!
fredchuff
Barrys agent: Alex Black insisted that transfer negotiations remain in flux. "The Daily Mail has reported that the deal has been done, but I can assure you that nothing has been done, as of 4.35pm.
"Like I said, I have no idea where they got that from. I can assure you that the deal has not been done.
"It is still between the two clubs at the moment. It is still ongoing."
villain76
Agreed Fred.
evoflash
The club wouldn't of put that statement out if they were not going to stand by it, MON hasn't budged so far why would he now?
johnmurphy3112
holte ender1969 - i'm not a yanky. i'm not american. but thank you. Eircol doesn't offer a different dimension. He has never once said anything enlightening. He has never once been right. He back tracks on words to follow the tabloids. He's full of ****e. I don't know how you can say I always strike you as too quick to judge when I've been listening to this ***** all summer. Why are you comparing me to a politician? I'm not a politician and never said I was? I have an opinion and stick to it, therefore why would i sit on a fence about it? I don't need personal attacks from you and I certainly wasn't personally attacking you - I wasn't attacking anyone. I was venting MY frustration towards a group of people who do nothing but moan about lack of transfers. I want transfers as badly as you and I agree we should have them in but for people who continually say this will be the team we start with and that we'll have no fullbacks is absolutely rubbish and ignorant. I am going to take a break until the games start to avoid getting crap for no reason from people like you. I don't need it and could care less. Cheers.
los_angeles_villan
Just come across a article on Vital MC about Santa Cruz being close to a move to MC for £8million. Think this guy would be quality and at £8million - would be a bargain if he can contibue his form of last season, and is still only 26/27 so plenty of years left ahead of him!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Who the bleep are we actually after ? Diouf,Malbranque and Chimonda for example have all signed in last week for Sunderland and where were we.Gera went to Fulham on a free and where were we.
Totally confused with MON`s transfer dealings or lack of,don`t tell me to wait til window closed as i`ve done that before.
ASPINALL
Again I agree, could it be possible that deals have been approved/agreed by the clubs and the players and MON is waiting to announce them all on a certain date, surely that would be too difficult to hide? if thats not the case then who can we buy? most decent players have been bought.
johnmurphy3112
It`s shambolic,i love the bloke but something ain`t right.
ASPINALL
LA Villain you have a right to your say and I for one enjoy your posts so dont let the negative twits on here get you down mate.
scoops
Diouf, Malbranque and Chimbonda are not good enough to get us Champions league football thats why we never signed them !!
Sidwell and friedel are top notch imo and if you LISTEN to Friedel you will know we are bringing top players in,Way too many doom n gloom merchants around here !!
scoops
MON says that the deadline was set at a meeting with MON Lerner Barry and his agent and everyone agreed to it, so it looks like he will be staying (Y) woop
Randy-Villain3293
Think the Barry news will change the transfer plans a bit, one less left back to buy and possibly one less CM to go after. I think M'ON will bring in 1 GK (Guzan most likely), 2 RB, 1 CB, 1 LB, 1 CM and 1 FW - in addition with Friedel and Sidwell. Thats makes in 9 players in and currently 5 have been released. So thats 4 up from last season. Is it enough?
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Thats a squad of 26 - not including Delfouneso, Ohalloran and Stieber
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
I think the numbers you just listed JCC will be enough with maybe a RM included in there but MON may just stick with Petrov or Routledge and address the more important defensive issues. Of course they must all be players who can get us pushing for that 4th spot
Randy-Villain3293
I would agree with that, though I would add a RM to the equation. With Barry staying I'd say a CM would be low on our priorty list - though I do fancy tis De la Red fella even though I know little about him!
azton villain
The paper talk must be wearing thin by now, we must have been linked to everybody who players football around the world about 3 times by now. I'm starting to wonder if MON actually has any money to spend, if he has is he seeing how much interest he can add to it while the interest rate is sky high.
pksandell
Yea i guess a RM makes more sense than a CM, although would love to see an attacking midfielder. Defense must be high on M'ON's priority list now, Barry can cover in LF but he is much more influential in CM.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Rand V, MON does not play Routledge or Petrov on the right, he plays NRC out of position so I still feel even if we did gt that many players in we would still be short. But also he has GOT to get in the quality we need. We need a 1st Teamer in every position you mentioned and they need to push the 1st 11 all the way, I am trying to stay positive, but cannot see us doing much next season, I am dissapointed already.
erv2005
I think we should move young to the right that would sort out RM and then go for Alonso from the doley's they tried to sell him off to get barry, if MON was to 'let him know he was wanted at the villa' he may say he wants to go, that would put the shoe on the other foot! and he is another class player, barry would stay CM but would allow him to cover LB when needed.
johnmurphy3112
We certainly can't keep Reo-Coker on the right! He looks crap whenever he plays there, at least in comparison to his central performances. A right sided midfielder is priority, or a left sided one so Young can switch flanks.
NorthcliffeBandit
Barry to left wing, Young to the right (although I think Young is far better cutting in from the left, ala Odense) with Sidwell and Hokey-cokey in the middle. Dependant on whether we bring in a LB to replace Bouma, if we don't the balance in midfield will be problematic as Barry is our LB. Routledge and Salifoooooooo won't cut the mustard.
Gazvilla
After reading the last few posts, I'm just glad that O'Neill picks the team. Barry-left wing why not Friedel our new goalie, "he's got a good kick on him" So unload Gabby, Petrov and Maloney and get two established backs (R and L Hoyte and Shorey woiuld be my choice) plus two creative strong, goal scoring mid-fielders (a la Sidwell) plus a fast, direct, goal scoring intelligent right winger with good delivery (a la Young). Throw in another top flight striker for good measure - one who is capable of scoring at least one goal in two matches. Top 4 would then be realistic. Go for it Martin.
villacross
NRC is not going to play the whole season on the right wing, he played there for one game, and that was to provide Gardner with defensive cover. In the home leg he was back in the middle of the park with Sidwell and Petrov either side of him. I don't even think RM is tha much of a priority as Maloney or even Routledge could do a job there. From our current squad our midfield line up will be Sidwell, NRC, Barry with Young droping into midfield when defending.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
If i was M'ON along with defender, i would bring in a quality striker with pace and is clinical - who will get us 20+ a season, someone like Bent, Santa Cruz or even Podolski (although Klinsmann has said Podolski is not for sale) but someone of similar calibre of the players mentioned would thrive of the crosses that Young provides, lay offs and flick on's from Carew, and get onto the through balls from Barry, Sidwell and NRC. A striker who can keep his cool in one on one situations, because i can't think of any one-on-ones which Gabby has converted!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Agree with villacross - I honestly don't see why finishing in 4th is beyond Villa's reach this season, qualilty full backs, another goal scoring MF would be good, but Young, Barry, Sidwell will all get goals, we just need NRC, Petrov and Maloney to chip in with more (the latter two are more than capable of doing so as well) and a top notch striker and seriously whats stopping Villa??? I think the lack of signings, and especially no RB has really made fans lose hope but M'ON will deliver - I cannot wait for the Premiership season to start!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
WHY even after reading the OS do I still think Barry will not be a Villa player come 1st Sept. It may just be that we havent heard from Gareth himself that he is staying but I am just not 100% - I think there is more to come in this saga.
deano.avfc
Think thats just it Deano, we need to hear something from the man himself! Hopefully by the end of the weekend, the OS have something - think it's about time he spoke!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Oh well there you have it - I knew there was more too it. Daily Mail is now reporting that there was a confusion over deadline and Liverpool missed it by 20mins - the offer stands at £17.5m plus Finnan. It is to go through tomorrow. Further apparent "evidence" (ie. lacking quotes) state that Barry has got himself a house in the Cheshire area and that he was withdrawn from the behind-closed-doors friendly with Notts County tomorrow. I suppose we wont know until we hear from Barry himself, he poses in a Liverpool kit kissing the 'This Is Anfield' sign (or Gerrards a*se), or he plays for us in September. The saga continues..........
deano.avfc
I'd like to call it paper talk but they did report that a bid had been agreed, so maybe Liverpool were close to getting the funds but just missed the deadline. It says the clubs were still in talk's, if this was the case, i just don't see why
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
I'd like to call it paper talk but they did report that a bid had been agreed, so maybe Liverpool were close to getting the funds but just missed the deadline. It says the clubs were still in talk's, if this was the case, i just don't see why the club would make a statement saying he is staying and why M'ON would come out and talk about his delight at Barry staying when there is still the possibility of him leaving
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW - agreed we must think positive, if we can take 6 or more points off the Top 4 this season we must be in the reckoning for Champions League next season. O'Neill really is the new "special one"! Do you recall what he said when he signed Young - "he will be very good for us". How right he was. That goal that Ashley scored on Saturday was the best I've seen at VP since Dalian Atkinson's goal - when was it? 12 years ago?
villacross
I guess if there is any ounce of truth in the Mail's online report, then tommorow we will find out.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
We managed to take 6 points of the top 4 last season, its the sloppy performance against Sunderland, Wigan, Boro, Rovers, Pompey, Man City at home and the result against Fulham away that was the difference in the end, but still credit to the lads for what they achieved last season - now they need to fulfil the promise they showed and take it up another level
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
deano.avfc - put it behind you - Barry is staying - with the deal he's got at Villa - £12mill+ over 4 years + a testimonial next year + an "opt-out" next year if our results go "pear shaped". He'd be a "prizer pr*tt" to leave especially when Villa will finish above them next season!
villacross
Bentley has offcially joined Spurs! It's a shame we couldn't get him to VP.
villa96
LAV, Sorry you took my response so badly. Took you as a obnoxious yank! Glad that you are not. Forget the little digs and lets move on shall we. All rumours/links are welcome and goodluck to you all. We all get fudged at the lack of signings and I am no different. Our difference of opinion wont be the last on here.
holte ender 1969
Yea it is a massive blow not to get Bentley, but I suppose its our usual story of having second or third best instead if the no 1 target!!!!!
He only went for 15mil rising to 17 mil, surely we can afford that or are we still being led up the garden path. I think we have made a big mistake not going for bentley!!!!! So we do go fo Young Talented English players, as long as they dont cost over 10 mil, GUTTED!!!!!!!!
erv2005
I have a very bad feeling that Barry will still go. By all accounts Liverpool were just 15 mins late on getting back to Villa saying they have the money. Surely when Barry hears this he will once again demand on leaving. This is a total farse! Just f$$king sell him!
In MON we trust!
I am gutted as well Erv2005, Spurs are also getting Asharvin according to todays reports. I know before anyone tells me that buying superstars dont make a team but they are showing much more drive to break the top 4 then we are arent they? As I said earlier in the thread that MON should be judged on results and its true, but I wish we would buy some **** players already we were all that when we got into UEFA transfers would come well where are they?! Good news about Barry although I am not 100% convinced if he does stay we need to show the ambition we CAN be a top 4 side because as today we are a long way off whereas Spurs are making a very good go at it.
Tez86
Also I saw on SSN we are linked to another keeper form spain or somewhere, I thought our GK transfers were as good as done now?
Tez86
If Barry has agreed to the deadline for transfer I would think he would abide by it, the deadline was 1700 30/07/08, not 1715 or 1701 or any other time, villa need to plan there season with Barry now and MON needs to show his ambition and start his transfer dealings.
johnmurphy3112
Bentley wanted to go to London, simple as that. He is from London, his wife is from London. It was nothing that Villa did wrong here, shame but that is the way things go!
The Fear
The rumours will continue on Barry until he comes out and says he is staying. Hopefully this will be today. I can't imagine MON coming out late last night and stating his relief at him staying if there was still a chance he would go though?
AVGD
I have been up most of the night with a screaming 6month baby so I have been thinking long and hard about the Barry saga. I reckon that if there is a grain of truth in the story that Liverpool were ready to offer £17.5m plus Finnan that Barry will reiterate a desire to leave - deadline or not - whether that is a comment to the press via his agent or a transfer request - it doesnt really matter. So I ask myself this - if the offer WAS made, do we accept it and lose face seemingly Liverpool "winning" the battle of wills. To be honest I am inclined to think we SHOULD. I cant see past the comments Barry made - they are very shocking and its rare to see comments like that made by a player about a current boss who is a real gent and has helped Barry throughout the last number of years. BUT my big question is can we trust MON to spend that money correctly. If I could see O'Neills shopping list and understand that the money will be added to a pot to get Miguel, de la Red, Milner/SWP, Kaboul, Shorey, Nugent ((why not - should be a cheap risk)) and Pazzini. But I do not know if he is willing to, or has the time to, go and get these type of player. If the money will go on Harewood and Knight type players lets just keep a hold of Barry!!! This money will need to be used correctly - Sidwell and de la Red should make up for the loss in the centre of the park however!
deano.avfc
Oh and another thing - the pay rise and releas clauses he will be offered could mean that we miss out on this kind of deal. If we finish 5th who knows he may be allowed to leave for £5m or so coz we didnt make Champs League!!
deano.avfc
Did e put up any kind of fight for Bentley no, we let Spurs walk all over us and get their target!!!!!!! I am not happy, are we not bigger than Spurs? Or will we go backwards and let all the London Teams walk over us, who next W Ham, Fulham, before long it will be the NE Clubs, as they are all able to spend money and get decent players in. Yet again we are left to wait and HOPE we get pur targets!!!!!I am disgusted!!!!!
erv2005
Deano, I too would love to see that list and how many players have already been crossed off!!!!!!
erv2005
Villacross just because the deadline has passed this time it doesn't mean Barry will sign any new contract he'll just be running this one down. I'm sure he'll still go this window and that we should take the money because you can be sure they'll be back for him in Jan and be offering less, or next summer with even less or he'll buy his contract out then.
Jaytee247
Why do i get the feeling that this isnt the end of the Barry Saga. Just wanted to say i read the Fear responce to that ***** Bill Howells interent blog geek jibe and say what a good reply and argument it was from Mr Fear. Just goes to show how Howell gets things wrong he said at the start that Crouch would come as part of the Barry deal how wrong you are Mr Muppet.
astonsteve
so now we have 4 central midfielders, an inured LB and no RB and Bentley has buggered of to spuds
UTV
the thing i find a bit irritating is that the intent Spurs have shown in getting quality players is exactly what MON has been talking about doing at Villa. as the cliche goes - it is okay to talk the talk, now walk the walk. it seems ridiculous to think he will play Gardner at right back, doesn't it?? as far as the Barry thing goes, i agree with deano.avfc and say take the 17.5 plus Finnan. GB has said a lot of negative stuff surrounding the club, and sure we all can forgive, but can we forget? i am happy to remain positive about what MONs plans are, it is pretty bleeding obvious we need players, but if it gets to the point where i start hearing excuses, then who wouldn't start to wonder?
leftfoot
Good news regarding Davies, played 60 mins in a closed doors match, wonder if he will get a run out on Saturday against Reading.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Curtis Davies may play in todays friendly, that would be like a new signing if all goes well fingers crossed for him.
johnmurphy3112
He did play in todays friendly as johncarewscrew said he got 60 minutes.
Eircol
SSN say that S Coppell says he does not expect to sell any of his squad before the start of the new championship season. Again has MON waited too long for a target ?
Randy-Villain3293
RV3293 - I Remember Coppell saying a while back he didnt want to let players leave so close to the start of the season, so maybe he won't let him leave. Only Kitson has left them so far, quite surprising, thought one or two of their players would have been worth a shout.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Erv - Bentley didn't want to come to us, plain and simple. He wanted the high life in London. Thats why MON pulled out of the bidding. He would have been wasting his time.
The Usual Suspect
Excellent news on NOT getting Bentley and getting Barry to stay in one day. Almost as good as not getting Defoe in Jan. No sarcasm intended atall, I just think that they are too big for their boots and wouldn't fit into MONs team with their ego's. GB was going that way but hopefully his feet are back on the ground now. Time will tell.
Villan444
Great news on Davies top quality player to have back but Randy and MON need to focus on getting us a right and left back pronto, then we still need another right back for cover. a centre half, right midfieder and a top quality goal scorer. We need to move quick before its to late i though we would have had a couple more by now.
astonsteve
JCC i agree they've done well to hold on to them. Players like Stephen Hunt and Doyle are Premiership quality surely - Im personally an admirer of James Harper - his goal against us at VP was awesome.
Randy-Villain3293
did barry play today?
johnmurphy3112
For all those still crying about Bentley going to the spuds.... quotes from interview with him on skysports.
"There is a piece of my heart at this club and as soon as I knew they were interested in me, there was nowhere else I wanted to go to be honest.
"I was trying my hardest to come here, every day on the phone. A lot of my friends are season ticket holders.
"I didn't really contemplate going to another club. This is where I want to develop as a player."
Pretty much said it all, Sounds like Villa didn't have a chance. MON knew not to waste his time. I dunno what else a manager can do to attract players to the club, short of tapping up players.
remixme
Ok thats fair enough from the lad and realise MON could not have done more, but where are the other targets gone???????
Where are our players, have we got any bids lodged, starting to get sick of 20 years of this every summer!!!!!
erv2005
Erv we don't hear official word of bids until their accepted. TBH I prefer it that way. It might make us nervous but do you remember the years of Ellis proudly proclaiming he'd made a bid for so and so only for it all to fall apart?
The Usual Suspect
*they're
The Usual Suspect
I dont know why we leave it so late every year and all of our targets miss out on pre season! 2 more weeks to the start of the prem and one more friendly! I know MON is the most fussy person in the world when it comes to transfers but surely he has had targets in mind all year to get them as soon as possible?! I am so desperately trying to keep faith but everyday when nothing new gets mentioned I get more and more worried, I dont want to be boring mid table again but that could be where we are heading as even the strugglers are improving tenfold!
Tez86
The likes of Sunderland Wigan etc. have bought a load of rejects. Our 3 signings so far of Davies, Sidders and Friedel are all top quality and it is this rather than quantity that I am hoping for.
Villan444
Martin O'Neil ia s manager of intelligency, integrity and most important experience. I know we all believe we have the right to know everything that goes on at VP at all times but it is probably best that we don't. Martin is one of the best managers in the world and I truly believe that he does know what he's doing even if we can't quite see the masterplan yet. We are all ike children at christmas looking in our parents wardrobes for the presents. Not that I ever did that of course!!!. I'll tell you this though... I wouldn't want to play poker against him.
fredchuff
That should be 'Like Children'
fredchuff
Fear can you put spellcheck on this please?
fredchuff
Barry has still not come out and said anything... why not?
AVGD
Scharner's signed a new contract at Wigan - another one bites the dust.
Randy-Villain3293
We were never after scharner. He has targets and he will wait for them, we will just have to wait for the merry-go-round to start.
Eircol
remixme; Bentley is quoting from the footballers hand book. AS soon as I knew these was in for me there was only one place I was going. That's the litterary version of kissing the shirt! All this takes place while they fill his greasy palms with cash!!! Footballers are mercenaries nothing more nothing less.
gappy65
Crikey the spuds are in for Pavlyuchenko as well as Arshavin now, almost makes you want to be a spurs fan. Crikey what am I saying.....this heat must be getting to me!
Jaytee247
Both who i think would be fantastic. I think if M'ON was in for Pavlyuchenko, he could convince him to join Villa. Arshavin would be difficult, i think with the performances he put in for Zenit in the UEFA and for Russia - he thinks he is too good and too for many teams. He will go to Spurs, because his first choice club Barcelona won't pay £20million for him!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
Not sure if this has already been posted but, it is an interview with Ruben De La Red. Sounds as though he is happy at Real Madrid. No mention of the Villa bid! http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1202740287779/noticia/Noticia/De_la_Red_press_conference_2008-07-31.htm
Mutley73
OK, I've been reading these threads for years and never contributed, so here goes with my first post... I think we have a problem, I don't believe we have the funds to sign top quality players, we won't pay enough (wages) and most of them want CL footie or London. I hope I'm wrong, but I think the best we can hope for is another couple of £5M players and maybe 3 or 4 other players at £2M or £3M
26.05.82
I think some teams are taking big risks in the moneytheir spending.Im more confident about our future the way things are being done.
Pking
Eircol...the merry-go-round has started mate. We are not competing - pure and simple. i am getting anxious now but want to be proved wrong but yet again we are one of the SLOWEST movers...we haven't even bought up and coming talent for the reserves...I know Giles Barnes is injured but he's worth buying too. A definite Villa player for the future. we have NO RB/LB. We need 2 of each, we need a quality CM and possibly LM and a ST. All this before 01st September....I am worried guys. Very worried.
koolbill
we'll be lucky260582 cant see any one coming in the next couple of weeks season to start with-fridel,barry,laursen,knight,gardner,nrc,petrov,sidwell,young,gabby and carew....absolutely garanteed...
avflell
@gappy65: Very true, very true. I seriously doubt it was footballing reasons. It just sounded to me a little more emphatic than the usual PR scripted stuff from the 'handbook' as you put it. "My friends are season ticket holders" Translates into "I want to party with my mates in London's clubs..."
remixme
avflell - surely we'll add a LB & RB before the Man City match? If we don't it will be absolute proof MON hasn't got the money.
26.05.82
you would hope so but the strongest link at the mo is naylor from celtic i cant think of any more and mon isnt going to call a press conference tomorrow and unveil 3 players it doesnt work like that no matter what people think
avflell
Cheers for clearing that up eircol. Surely MON will sign someone in the next two weeks (that's what ive been saying for the whole summer) but really now MON knows he needs to get at least a RB in before the start of the season so if he doesnt im sure it wont be for lack of trying. If again there's no activity in the next two weeks MON needs to get 2 RBs, 2 LBs, a CB, a striker and/or a RM thats a total of 6/7 players in 3 weeks. And we know that MON is not going to pull that off in 3 weeks so he'll KNOW he HAS to bring in players in the next two weeks. I'm amazed that this week has gone by without any signings but i'm still keeping the faith.
Randy-Villain3293
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that MON has a sense of humour and really does sign 7 players in one day!
azton villain
i'm getting sick and tired of sitting in watching ssn all night with the laptop on looking for a crumb of hope getting grief off the wife and kids-i did this all last january and look what we got....AAAAAAARGH! i want my life back i cant take it anymore...
avflell
avflell, lol, its not just me then? I get soooo much s**t from my missus. They don't understand do they?!
johnmurphy3112
your not kidding and then september 1st you get your life back
avflell
Guzan should be unveiled tommorow - and that means we are only one down from last season! M'ON will bring the players in, we may have to wait till the end of the transfer window ofor a left back, but i honestly think a RB will be signed up for the Man City game. Just because he doesn't spend £15million here and there, doesnt mean there isnt money available - he has spent £8mil on Davies, £5mil on Sidwell and £2.5 ON Friedel and was willing to pay £10mil-ish for Bentley - there is money availble, if there wasn't no doubt we would know. There will be 1 GK, 2 RB, 1 LF, 1 CB, 1 MF and 1 FW to arrive before the end of the season - and he would have spent atleast another £25million. I have plenty of faith in M'ON and back him 100% to make this season a success!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
hope your right jcc,i dont think the money is an issue either,i just think that a little bit of pr in this matter(ala redknapp) would go down well with us poor prisoners of the vital site
avflell
JCC - Hope you're right on Guzan, then we'll have one less position to worry about. I don't disagree with the fact that we'll possibly spend £25M on 6 or 7 players, but looking at the other teams that will be competing for 7th, 6th, 5th and 4th place there is no way we can hope to see a progression next year when they're spending £10M plus on single players and overall spending more than us by some margin. I think we all have to come back down to reality - with the way it's going top 8 is the target, not top 6. Gutted I'm saying this but I can't see us challenging Liverpool.
26.05.82
couldnt care less if we sign players for 250k or 25m i trust martin to manage the team and get the very best out of them ..... its just the transfer windows where we struggle to aquire the numbers we need...we just need to be on a level playing field squad no wise to really be able to challenge the top4'
avflell
I'd be really worried if we started signing players for £250k but I take your point. It would be so, so good if we pulled a rabbit out of the hat and signed a world class player - just imagine...
26.05.82
Eircol is the right back going to sign before the reading game as stated?
fatloser
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW -Well said O'Neill will deliver the goods. He obviously has a will of steel. I have voiced mamy criticisms of him over the past two years amd even had a run-in with the General on this website over his prevarication with transfer dealings. However I am beginning to realise just how difficuly it is for him to get the sort of players he would like to sign. I am convinced that money is not an issue and RL will support him 110% in whoever he want to sign. It is simply a question of players (a) willing to live in or arounf Brum coupled with non-European action. I am now resolveed to be patient for as long as it takes for us to become a Top4 Club again but more and more, I am becoming a true fan of both O'Neill and Lerner, I just hope they stick with us until the job is done.
villacross
MON doesn't buy world class players he just makes them, it would be great to get a VDV or Steinwieger in think of the revenue in names on shirts!!
johnmurphy3112
That's it JM3112 That's the progression we all crave big names, big revenues, underpinned by RL, surely (please god) we can attract one or two of these players if we pay them enough, if we have the ambition. Easy said for me, it's not my money, I'm not talking about throughing caution to the winds and risking a Leeds situation, just one or two stars please MON - please.
26.05.82
SORRY - that should be *throwing caution to the wind...
26.05.82
There were reports the other day bout VDV joining Real so IF there is any truth in the De La Red rumours then he may become available. Agree though, would be fantastic to see some one like Schweinsteiger at Villa and i reckon if M'ON was in for him, we stand a serious chance of getting him, he has apparently said he would like to play in the Premiership and i also read somewhere he was in the final year of his contract, so possibly available at £7-8million!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
We find out who we play in UEFA tommorow - exciting times!
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
And Guzan ! Even more exciting times
Randy-Villain3293
Something which i posted on the forum. A review of the clubs who have been most active so far in the TW.
Fulham have signed 8, but released/sold 13 - 5 down on last season but the quality of players is better.
Hull have signed 8
WBA have signed 6, and released/sold 5
Sunderland have signed 7
Spurs have signed 5, and have released/sold 6 - but the quality is slightly better
Now if you look at that,
Fulham struggled last season and need major changes in order to do better.
Hull, WBA - newly promoted teams and NEED Premiership players
Sunderland - did OK at times and struggled last season and are looking to kick and improve on 15th.
Spurs had a poor season last year and with a new manager, expect changes because no doubt the board were unhappy with 10/11th.
The teams who have been most active so far are teams that struggled last year and need changes. Although we have only signed 3 player (2 less than Spurs) our quality has also improved, Friedel for Sorenson, Davies isnt Mellberg but can be just as good as he was and Sidwell is younger and better than Berger. With luck Guzan signs tommorow and we have been just as productive as Spurs this season and the quality has improved!
Along with Villa, Portsmouth, Wigan, Arsenal and Liverpool have also signed four players, all except Pompey have had more players going out than coming in - same situation as us. So really its not just M'ON who isnt "busy" so far - everyone seems to be in the same situation as us.
JOHN.CAREWS.CREW
avflell and jm3112, LOL. You are both so right. I get so much stick from the missus from being on this site day and night 24/7 looking for rumours or signings its beyond a joke. Infact the missus said to me the other night that I should refresh her instead of that bloody forum! So, I quess I could be on my way out as a free transfer then! You are right, they dont understand do they.
holte ender 1969
JCC- and we've got our youngsters coming through (and there's only one way to see if they are good enough) and fringe players like routledge and salifou. So all in all things aren't that bad. Just need 2 or 3 more signings to bulk the squad up, but overall we are progressing. Though 6 or 7 signings would be better, though not as good as me kicking this 24/7 transfer story addiction I've developed. Christ i can't wait for 1st september. My eyes ache so much every morning.
tonybrum
We have the smallest squad in the Prem,we have a weaker first 11 than last season with 2 weeks to go and we will probably still lose our 3rd most important player in that team before then,i fail to see the positives at this stage,once again a transfer window looks like it will disappoint the majority.We seem clueless.
ASPINALL
Gudjohnsen anyone? That rumour went quiet as did the miguel rumour. Both quality and both beyond us then. Just wish we could just go for it in the transfer market. We will definately start the season worst off than last. If we are to beat our efforts of last season then we do need to get off to a strong start and I can't see that happening as we are predictably slow in getting players in. ........................Yawn.
holte ender 1969
If we for some reason got Schweinsteigger it would be the greatest signing I can remember for some time.
los_angeles_villan
Now linked with Silvestre ,,, better than nothing.
col8
Yeah on loan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
astonsteve
think gudjohonson or his agent, dad, cat or something said he wants london or manchester or something like that. And apart from Mellberg I'd have said our squad is stronger than last seaon, well whilst we've got barry it is. Oh bugger sorry forgot Bouma is injured. Just got up, where's my coffee...............
tonybrum
Why would why loan Sylvestre, when we could get Shorey, Sylvestre is decent but lets buy some players, Shorey is decent too, and you can't tell me he wouldn't want to come to us, no-one else seems to be linked to him. Lets not forget we're trying to improve so when we play Man utd 2 twice in the league and the normal FA cup game we will be without a left back, to improve you have to test the top teams and you won't test them with loan players missing. Lets build our own squad not loan one!
johnmurphy3112
Do we find out our european opponents today??
PBAVFC
Moyes is looking rid of Leighton Baines - why not make a move for him. Him or Shorey and I would be happy!!
deano.avfc
Unfortunately it seems GB will go, I know it's still newspaper speculation, but I reckon if he was staying he would have said so by now. So the squad isn't stronger than last year, we'll be without Mellberg, Bouma and Barry and we still don't have a RB. I wouldn't change MON and RL for the world BUT WHAT ARE THEY DOING? The latest link is a loan move to cover an injury, if we had a full squad we wouldn't need to patch things up. We don't need patches we need permanent solutions!
26.05.82
Barry hasn't said anything because more talks with MON, RL, GB and agent are set for today, so expect Barry to reveal his intentions over the weekend, I have said all along though how can MON prove AVFC's amibition when we have made minimal movement in the transfer window, we still have a tiny squad and the best link we have today is a loan player who has just recovered from injury!
johnmurphy3112
What I don't understand about the loan link move is that a MON stated a few days back that he was looking to strengthen the left back position up before Freddie got injured anyway. So we suddenly move for a loan, why not go for the player who he was going for before Freddie's injury. Surely that wasn't a loaned out Silvestre was it?!
PBAVFC
I'm beginning to get the feeling that MON started the window with a strong list of players but has pretty much missed out on them all. I would just love to be wrong though.
PBAVFC
PBAVFC, I think you're right maybe AVFC isn't an attractive proposition is it because of wage structure, ambition, facilities, location?, on the OS we are linked with 131 player to date with only 2 new players in and now we're looking at loans, MON is a very clever and shrewd man he would've had targets at the start of the transfer window, they haven't come off and now we're desperate, People will say he's bideing his time for the right players and he knows what he is doing I doubt that now, we're so short of players our transfer dealing should be finished now, yet they haven't even started.
johnmurphy3112
jm3112 - you say barry may reveal his intentions over the weekend. I'd best buy the NOTW on sunday then :)
tonybrum
It seems de la red is happy to stay and fight for his place..
Eircol
Theres definitely something not quite right. Why don't we have a right side to our team including back ups? Why no back up left back? A shortage of centre halfs.....I hate to sound like a typical moaning villa fan but its difficult in the current situation. I think MON is the best thing to happen to this club since Big Ron, but I really really hope transfer windows don't prove to be his downfall. Still, gotta have the faith suppose.
PBAVFC
we've already got 2 LB's. Both may be injured but we still have 2 and Barry if he stays as cover. Think that's enough LBs so a loan move for a LB is perfect. Would you like Silvestre at the club? I would. Don't see the problem with being linked for a loan move he's a quality player. Feel free to moan about the RB or lack of one though!
tonybrum
We still have time, it would be nice to have everything sorted nice and early for the team to gel, but its very normal especially for us to leave it late.
Eircol
Deano - Id be happy with Baines and Shorey.
However De La Red has said he's recieved offers from the PL but said hes staying despite VDV coming in.
Randy-Villain3293
Now if we're gonna go for a loan deal what about de la red for a season?
johnmurphy3112
Even David Moyes at Everton was saying how hard it was to attract players in the transfer window on SSN. I think a lot of teams have to wait for the 'Big 4' to have their pick of the 'Big Names' before teams like Villa & Everton who have ambition can work with what is left. Sad but true.
fredchuff
That goes for the European teams and Euro-talent too!
fredchuff
Guzan has his permit - have a funny feeling this guy is gona be a star buy.. maybe not this year but in the years to come! is that 4 in now? you know what they say... slow n steady wins the... ;)
azton villain
good point fred, i expect the transfer merry go round to start speeding up next week.
tonybrum
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