Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Dan Jones 
Date:Wednesday January 28 2009
Time: 12:42PM
UK time is: 08:22:38
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Wednesday's Aston Villa Transfer Talk
Once again its all quiet in the rumour mill. But we have still been linked with a couple of players, one of which is more likely to be signed in the summer.
The Mirror has us linked with a summer move for Newcastle's Michael Owen, who as we all know will be available on a free transfer!!!
The report suggests that Aston Villa are putting together 'ambitious plans' to sign Owen on a free transfer when his current deal runs out. They also claim that we want to link him up with new boy Emile Heskey with whom he has partnered for both England and Liverpool.
They suggest that 'securing Champions League football with a top four finish will attract Owen and finance his £110,000- a-week wages'.
An exciting one, and a realistic one too, Owen and Heskey with Agbonlahor as back-up is quite a mouth-watering proposition.
Another link today, this time in The Sun, suggests we are sniffing round Charlton's highly rated teenager Josh Wright, who plays midfield. I have never heard of him, but if he is young and British, i could see this deal happening.
However, Marlon Harewood has been linked with a move to Portsmouth in The Mirror, it also claims that Stoke and Middlesbrough are interested, but all three want to loan the player they claim is rated at £2million.
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Your Comments
Michael Owen, yes please. So what if he is injury prone, we would have Gabby as cover!!!
young_jonah
I'd rather have Sturridge
Nimmo
Sturridge has never done anything though. We have Delfouneso!!!!
young_jonah
I'd rather have Sturridge too. If it was the Michael Owen from the 1998 World Cup era then I'd jump at it, but he's so ravished with injuries nowadays it would be a pointless signing...compare it to Johnny Wilkinson, he's not the world-beater he was in the 2003 rugby world cup now, most teams wouldn't go near him. He's like Darth Vadar..."he's more machine than man now..."
olofthegreat
Nah i would still have Owen, as i say above, if he gets injured Gabby can come in, not a bad back up player. Sturridge may go onto be great, Owen is. But anyway, why dont we just sign both, why does it have to be one or the other?
young_jonah
Think we could convince anyone playing in the premiership to join the Randyloution at the moment. Owen / Sturridge / Johnson / Scharner please in the next few days please MON !!!
bentonm
I would be happy with any 2 of the 4 you mention mate!!! All 4 would be superb.
young_jonah
this has to be quote of the month from the gaurdian............."were you watching, Rafael Benitez"
Astonian Villan
I was just thinking, we've got Craig Gardner, do we even need to sign anyone else?
PTP
I would think "Are you still watching Rafael Benitez?" would be more appropriate for the summer!
villa_de
The loan idea with Marlon sounds OK. Now Heskey is here, it would give him regular footy, and possibly find him a club he feels happy with. Plus, if Heskey or Gabby got injured, we could still call him back! I think that might work now!
villa_de
Just wondering if people are already forgetting about BIG john? With all this talk of Heskey etc... Would be interested to hear who people would start A fit Carew or Heskey? Are even play both and drop gabby? Could this be our next pole Mr Fear? The options could be embellished on if you like.
azton villain
Imagine the Josh Wright thing is something the paper has just made up - he is only 17 and has looked very good in a very poor Charlton side when he has played in the odd match recently. No one could honestly say how good he might be but we have probably half a dozen youngsters of that age he could be just as good if not better.
pongo wearing
I think talk of leaving Gabby out for Owen or anyone else is doing him a huge disservice. His pace frightens teams to death and is a huge factor in our style of play. Take that out of the side and we would surely have to play a different way. Not forgetting he has got 10 goals as well. He is only going to get better and having someone alongside him will be a big help.
sirdennis
worth a punt if you put him in a big team. Anyone better than Newcastle are a big team!
Matt_Us
Owen would be a great signing, he would not replace Gabby though. Gabby and Owen would obviously rotate and Heskey would rotate with Carew (strength in depth)...
industrial_musical
I dont think that is the case sirdennis, no-one is doing Gabby a disservice, he has been good for us, but Owen is probably a better player in most people's eyes, there is no room for sentiment when you are building a team capable of challenging for honours though, if Gabby can fit in MON's plans then great, but if he doesnt then so be it, we need to be ruthless if we want to push on and unfortunately that may mean losing a few fan favourites on the way. However Gabby more so than most, is in a strong position, he is already established in the side despite being young and as such he likely to be part of the plans for the clubs future. But if that means being on the bench, as i say, so be it. I like all the starting 11, but if better players come in then i will happily see them all dropped. UTV
young_jonah
I do not expect us to sign Owen (I think it was MON having a joke) but if he did then on current form I believe it would be Owen who would spend time sitting on the bench and perhpas coming on to try and change the game as and when needed.
pongo wearing
Owens a has-been, Gabbys the future, lets not forget that. Villa born and bred or a injury-prone newcastle misfit only concerned with himself??? Mmmmm? He'd want to play week in week out not be rotataed. I fail to see the Owen fantasy im afraid. Think we could do better but for free theres nothing to lose i suppose. At 29 he's not going to get any better is he? Gabby gets better by the game IMO. Needs to start looking up more and we'd score more goals im sure of it. What im trying to say is id have gabby over owen anyday.
medzy
at 29 owen wouldnt want to play every game as resting between games would prolong his career the same goes for heskey, rotating gabby,owen,heskey and carew would be ideal, it would also be great for our youngsters coming through.
johnmurphy3112
Thats if he stays fit. Sturridge looks a likely Mon signing. Sell "the hare" to pompey for 2M. Happy days
medzy
Owens just limped off for Newcastle, but not clear how bad his injury is yet.
villa96
All this talk about strikers but our midfield is in need of an injection of creativity. We need players comfier on the ball who can thread that pass through, shield the ball, keep cool and keep possession. Where is our new Gordon Cowans or anyone to match the skills of the big four as was. Barry is being lauded for battling rather than making the runs and passes of his best performances and Sidwell is always most noted by not being very noted for anything. Petrov, fine. But our brilliant defence and speedy attack would be much better supported by a team that was better at possession football. I know playing to our defensive and counter-attacking strengths means we are not going to play the same game as Arsenal at their best, but the amount of balls pumped into our box last night would however well we defended normally on the law of averages have led to conceding a couple. That we didn't was down to the luck of the run of the ball as well as brilliant defending.
All I am saying is I give high priority to boosting our midfield. Comfiest performance on the ball for Villa this season was Salifou in Prague but he has since dissapointed although perhaps under the weather through injury or man flu. But perhaps he deserves another go - or buy someone plese.
stennyvilla
Stennyvilla, Barry is that player you mention. Think is we play down the flanks when attacking or play it long through the middle, as i say Barry is more than capable of doing all the things you say, its just MON doesnt want to play like that, so me another goalscorer is priority, Gabby gets injured, we can kiss europe good bye IMO.
young_jonah
Owen is too injury prone, he should sign a new deal at Newcastle cos no-one else will pay his wages. Lasted about 20mins tonight. Mind you Beckham would provide a good cover for Milner and be able to plant a few good balls on Heskey to flick on to Gabby. So many options, MON will steer the right path
RiF
Owen does not care about the team just himself, we have Gabby, Delfouneso, Carew and The Hare so I say no more strikers untill one leaves. I think PTP has a point Craig Gardner is a very good player and one who does not get the playing time he deservers imp, I do think we need another center back however. I dont trust Zat, Curtis is great and Carlos seems rather solid but none of them can replace Martin over the next two months to the his high standerd so, we should try to get a younger solid CB that could fill in for him and then replace Martin when he retires.
Tallaght Villan
all this Owen talk is boring, and we've had it before. he is an injury prone ego-maniac who has had his day. not the future for villa at all and i reckon MON knows it.
leftfoot
Owen out injured AGAIN. As much as I said a month or so back that I'd like to see Heskey & Owen I think I've changed my mind. He is WAY too injury prone. I'm not stressing about who we sign. I'm fairly confident MON will sign one or two more players before the deadline and I'm sure who ever he signs will do a great job. In MON I trust more than ever. Liverpool v Chelsea on Sunday so if we beat Wigan we will definirely be at least 3rd if not 2nd by the end of the weekend. Villa to beat Wigan 2-0. Liverpool v Chelsea 2-2. Wouldn't that be nice? ;)
Adam Deuce
And as if to prove a point Owen limps off the very same day and is out for 6 - 8 weeks.
AMS78
Owens a joke. We dont need him.
medzy
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