Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Friday June 15 2007
Time: 2:40PM
UK time is: 10:54:28
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Liam Ridgewell for Small Heath?
Reports in the Birmingham Mail suggest that Steve Bruce is keen to revive his interest in Villa defender Liam Ridgewell, with a bid of about £2 million expected?
Apparently he does not think the cross city divide will be a problem and the story also suggests that Ridgewell would not be to worried about the move, if he isn't going to be a regular at Villa Park.
Personally I have no problem if he goes there, providing he is replaced first. He has always given his all to the Villa and I actually think he is a potential leader and captain, not at the top level, but at a less ambitious or glamorous club.
I do have an issue over the price though. We have no need to sell. Small Heath are in desperate need of centre half's and proven premiership defenders are few and far between. Players worth £2 million a couple of years ago are now worth 3 times that. If they are serious, let them start the bidding at £7 million. Ridgewell is at least the equal of the 28 year old, injury prone Upson they sold to West Sham for £7 million.
Please Villa do not start releasing our Academy developed players for peanuts in this day and age of megabucks TV money. It is a sellers market.
Article submitted by voiceoftheholte
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Your Comments
Assuming we are going to buy another CB - is an extra £2m or a 5th choice CB more valuable to us. I believed in the 2 players for each position guideline and we have stuck to that for a long time. But after seeing how Chelsea and Man Utd suffered when losing two centrebacks I think that you need two for every position EXCEPT centreback where 5 players vying for 2 spots is necessary. Therefore I would like us to have 5 (Mellberg, Laursen, Cahill, Ridgewell and the likes of Curtis Davies) - especially with Laursen being injury-prone and Cahill and Ridgewell still young. I say keep him - unless we sell him and buy another 2 (but that could be very expensive). Do we have any other defenders coming through the ranks?? I know of O'Halloran but he is a left-back primarily.
deano.avfc
I'd be sorry to see Ridge depart. And the poor kid would have the trauma of championship footy to look forward to in 08-09 if he moved to the Sty. Can't we convert him into a right-back ?
pongogidman
I thought his performances last season were brilliant.
Pking
I'm another one who doesnt want Liam to go, especially not to THEM. He was unlucky to lose his place last season and didn't do a lot wrong. He is 4th in line though, but the only naturally left footed central defender we have although I think O'Halloran has played left sided centre back. I don't think central defence is a problem area for us if we keep what we have got. By the way, wasn't Ashley superb against the Italians. a snip at £8-10 million I say.
krfeskivilla
I have, for a while now, been posting on the site about keeping our young players and giving them an extended run in the side as I believe that we have the makings of a very good side already. This is why I am against Bellamy amongst others, as well as the negative aspects of him as a person, more importantly I think we should have the confidence to give Gabby and Luke a go.
Ridge hasn't done badly when picked, apart from THAT run of penalties, and with a bit more experience of playing with the likes of Olly and Laurson I think he'd be o.k. It's sods law that we have the money to invest when we have a good crop of home grown talent coming through. I guess that to push on to the next level some of these guys will want more first team football and will then ask to move on, but I can't help feeling they will come back to haunt us one day.
Jon.H
krfeskivilla, my point exactly. I think that Young may be worth £25 million in just a few months. We also know that if the Dildo Salesmen buy Ridgewell for £2 million they will try and sell him for £10 million when they are relegated at the end of the season. If he goes there, they can blinkin well pay for the privelidge. I would be gutted to see them make a fortune on someone we have developed.
voiceoftheholte
Must admit, having been a regular reserve game goer at the time, I saw Ridgewell 'grow up' and was impressed when he progressed to the first team and carried on organising, motivating, being vocal etc. Thought we'd a future Villa captain. I'd be sorry to see him go, unless he thinks he has no chance of breaking through, if Laursen was super fit and was likely to be able to play all the games (lets hope, as I think he would be amongst the top 5 defenders in the prem?) then maybe he is right to leave to get regular first team football, just a shame as I am sure he is good enough.
The Fear
I think he has a great attitude I hope we dont sell him,were only gonna end up in a situation where we'll have to buy loads of players to make up numbers.
Pking
Anyway when the worlds 5th richest man buys them they'll set their sights elsewhere.
Pking
If we do sell him on (to anyone - not just Brum) we should put a MAJOR sell-on clause at least 30% of anything they receive over what they bought him for. That goes for Steve Davis and anyone else. Ipswich are going to get at least £3m when Bent moves on and they only sold him for £2.5m!!! If we had that written into Peter Crouch's sale to Southampton we would be getting (quick maths time!!) sold for £2m then £7m leaves £5m - 30% of £5m is £1.5m!!! Basic business - im sure Randy will know what to do!!!
deano.avfc
I love the way you lot call us Small Heath as if it were an insult.
We are almost as proud of our east Birmingham roots as we are to carry the name of the city. Anyone would think our name annoyed you.
Thank you and goodbye.
Pete Flamingo
I suggest a new article.Villa vs Birmingham.
Pking
here that noise? that was me diving for cover and hitting my head on the desk!
The Fear
Maybe loan out Ridge and Davo for a season, see how we go, and if we do qualify for Europe reassess our options then.
Jon.H
Pking, havin a larf entcha..............
Jon.H
It would be ashame to lose him although the lure of first team football could decide. If the boot was on the other foot and we wanted to sign a Blues player, then they would surely up the price by at least a few million, in conclusion because it's SHA, Villa should do the same - £5 million. If Upson's worth £7 million, what's Ridgewell worth?! UTV.
Yuen_Biao
oh no, here we go again...................................
Jon.H
His moustache is worth just £7m alone!
bazzah
New poll asking if he should be sold. As for the other stuff, got to make it clear, not having it, there is an open terrace forum if people want to have a go but not here, life is too short, or at least mine is!
The Fear
I think taht could be a forum for some intersesting debate ;)
Pking
Are you telling off again Mr Fear :o)
voiceoftheholte
The weather is nice today.
Hoss The Villain
What has Catweazle done with Ridgewell?
Villan444
I wouldn't dare voice, I wouldn't dare!!!!
The Fear
I think a better move would be to offer him to WBA plus 5mil for Davis. That would solves a lot of problems!
Nigel-not-Reo
Well said Fearsome.
paddy@villa
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voiceoftheholte
Sorry for the last post guys, my daughter has just joined me at work and is in the process of ruining my street cred.
voiceoftheholte
Is it me or does liam look like Mr Pringle (Of crisp fame)
Dannygav
I think unfortunately Liam will never really succeed at Champions League/European level due to his lack of pace. I do not mind if he leaves but we should get at least 4 Mill for him, but he does always struggle against any kind of pacey striker. Great work ethic.
KSarge1
I hope he don't go full stop. Especially to them.
spit-fire
damn it voiceoftheholte, thought it was the best thing you'd posted since being a member, now you are telling me it was your daughter!!!!! :o)
The Fear
I say keep Ridge on the condition that he shaves that ridiculous hairy catapillar from his top lip, it's just not got the same imposing nature as Olli's beard. Oh yeah, it makes him look like a ***** too :o)
Villain Of The North
Did you hear that noise? Blimey Pete Flamingo, you can tell you're back in the Premiership. We haven't had the misfortune of having you lot on here for 12 months. Get back in your box. SOTC
Geordie_Villa
Can't understand this talk of selling when we haven't bought anyone yet. LUNACY
myleftfoot
myleftfoot. It is not the Villa doing the talking. And I honestly believe if he does go it will not be until after we have improved in that area and it will be for a great price with massive sell on clauses as well. I hope!
voiceoftheholte
Categorically against the sale of Ridgewell ( I believe, personal opinion)t that he is further on in his development that Cahill and I think his performances with Mellberg early on in the season after Laursens injury were pretty impressive. Now if he wishes to leave then that is his choice and we should look for more than £3m and get some sell on clauses.
fatloser
I hope we keep him but if he does go don't sell him to the filth.
chris the villan
And you you do have to admire his mustache looks like one of the three musketeer's.
chris the villan
His tache reminds me of when I was in school.
Pking
I think he's OK, but a bit dodgy like his tache!
tarzan
Also have you seen what he looks like in FIFA 07 ? Comical.
Pking
Rumour today is that he'll be used as a makeweight in any deal (e.g. Curtis Davis)
tarzan
think he is a cert 2 go somewhere really as he didnt pull out of under 21's for nothing also as in liam's case of needing the games but be surprised and disappointed if he went 2 blues for near to nothing.think if i had 2 choose between cahill and ridge i know who i would choose and sorry 2 say it aint Liam. UTV
Belfast Villain
Big mistake not playing him, even bigger mistake to sell him
AussieVilla
I'd keep for at least another season. He really can develope into a decent defender. Especially as he actually talks - unlike melberg and whats more he is left footed and young
myleftfoot
I think if we could get 3-4 million for him then i`d take it,personally think he is too weak to be a top-class Centre half in Prem.
ASPINALL
I posted on this before and think both Liam and Cahill have a long term future at the Villa.Equally I have highlighted that if young players have not got enough faith in their abillity to fight for a place in the side maybe they have not got the right attitiude for us.I want him to stay, solid left sided centre half, and in todays prices for players, Bruce can go **** himself if he thinks 2 mill will buy him.Lets start taking 7mill and a clause were we get to go and burn one of their stands down!...every player has their price!!
OneloveVilla
He should be punished for that blackcurrant stain on his top lip i agree, but to sell him to the scum is taking it a bit far.
mackaavfc
That picture is shocking ! Do we really want that on the 07-08 team photo ??
ASPINALL
THEY HAD A FEW OV OUR CAST OFFS
VILLA MACKA
Academy produced players to your city rivals? Hopefully not!
sandgroanun
Would very much like to see him remain at Villa Park. He's developing nicely, and certainly did very little wrong when he played last season. Selling him to our beloved neighbours across the way is not I believe the route we should consider, certainly not at a fee of 2million or so anyhow.
glensider
In fact selling him to anyone right now, Birmingham City or whoever, wouldn't make the slightest bit of sense. Our first team squad is becoming depleted enough numbers wise, and until new faces start arriving, then we need to firmly close the exit door.
glensider
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