1958Villan

What would you think of putting in a bid for Chelsea's Loic Remy on loan, instead of Patrick Bamford? Remy has sunk even further down the chain since Chelsea bought Batshuyi.

Surely the only contract anyone would offer Balotelli, is a pay if you play one.

jackbaur24, we don't need a player to excite the crowd. What we do need, is a player with the vision to see where chances can be made and the ability to create said chances. I know people rate Ayew but, he really isn't that good. For one thing, he isn't much of a team player. He's one of three players we have with the same problem, wanting to do it all on their own. The other two are Traore and Grealish, although Jack has been a little better so far this season but, only a little. All three need to get their heads up and pick a pass a lot quicker than they do, otherwise all three will be players who never fulfill their potential. If we did, for example, take Morrison on loan with a buy option. I can only see it as a replacement for Ayew. The chatter about Nahki Wells is just that, chatter. Huddersfield have not, as yet, received any bids for him, as

I think we can all agree, that we are very weak in some positions and have very little depth all over the pitch. Personally, I think we desperately need a creative midfielder more than anything, someone who has the vision and ability to unlock defences so we don't have to rely on shots from 25 - 35 metres out. While I have grave doubts about Ravel Morrison, maybe a loan with a buy option could be arranged, as he is the type of player we need. We do not only have the right back situation to sort out but, the left back one as well, for I hate to let you all know but, Amavi is nowhere near as good as everyone thinks. We also need one more centre-back, another DM and CM and a goalkeeper.

I agree with the sentiments of DK82, with some work, admittedly hard work, Gabby could have become a 25 to 30 goals a season, first name on the team sheet for club and country, striker. I think that the biggest flaw in Gabby's makeup has been his aversion to hard work. Such a pity that he has not listened to the 'right' people throughout his career. When I look back on Gabby's career, pity is what I will feel. 'Pity and a feeling of what might have been.'

And isn't that the definition of a wing-back JPA, a fullback with the license to attack, when the time is right?

I think two things led to Agbonlahor's fall from grace. To understand the first requires some honesty from fans, in admitting that the only thing Gabby ever had going for him was incredible pace, that he never had anything in his locker that could be described as a footballing skill. Just before he left, Mr.O'Neil wanted Gabby to beef up, so that he could bully centre backs. Completely foreign to the way Gabby could play and by doing said beefing up, reducing his one advantage, his speed. The way Mr. Lerner turned Gabby into Mr.Aston Villa, a cheap PR trick, local lad as the face of the club. The thing is Gabby actually believed it, he believed he was bigger than the club, simply because successive managers weren't allowed to drop him and he was allowed to set bad examples when he didn't like the training regimes. Now Gabby has had a kick up his over large backside and at the age when he should be in the middle of his peak years, he finds himself unwanted by the club. Once Gabby realises that he really has no way back at this club and that if he wants some kind of footballing career, he has to be prepared to get really fit and drop down the leagues, the better for him and everyone else.

If playing two wingbacks, you have the choice of playing two DM's or, a 3-man back line with a single DM. Anything else would be suicidal, especially with wingbacks who are weak defensively.

They are villanwesty88. Morrison is more of an attacking midfielder, playing just behind the strikers, while Diawara plays from a lot deeper. More like a DM position.

Apparently, Diawara and Foresteri are playing the same childish games and that is why the interest in Italy hasn't just cooled, its turned to ice. There are at least three others who play his position, who are about the same age and just as highly rated. Bazoer of Ajax, Tieleman of Anderlecht and Dahoud of Munchengladbach.

My reading of where things stand with those continually linked to us. Have I said something that is untrue?

I don't dispute the need for more signings, just the calibre of some of those linked to us.

Jedinak probably has less than two seasons left in his legs. Yesterday he reportedly had a good first half but, his second half performance was jaded and pedestrian. Hardly what we need, besides there are younger players who are captain material. Diawara hasn't had any preseason, so he'd be two months behind fitness wise if he was signed today. Can we really afford to have a player who wouldn't be fit to play for two to three months? Morrison is hardly the type of player who fits the criteria laid down for incoming purchases. Hull have nobody in place to deal with transfers, either in or out, so Hernandez is a no-go. I for one, am unsure about De Laet, simply because he seems to be the perpetual loan player.

Man Utes Paddy McNair reported as being at Stadium of Light for medical and terms.

I'd been on about Gunter long before the European championship. And why would you be so derogatory towards Reading, who were not as lowly placed, as the team we've just given £12-14 million to for a striker.

Bacuna is not now and never has been a right back. He is, however, a midfielder who can play all across the advanced midfield line, even being able to fill in at right-wing. Richards has gone backwards in any defensive position, so his ideal position would be as a box-to-box midfielder. Hutton at least does know what being a right back entails. Replacements are available. For example; Chris Gunter of Reading and Wales, who can defend but is happy being a wingback. Or DeAndre Yedlin of Spurs who is best used as a wingback. Not forgetting DeLaet of Leicester. For a defensive right back, Swansea's Kyle Naughton is as good as they come. A winger who can play either side or, through the middle, who has a wicked delivery and is out of contract is noir Hoillet. Of course for a winger to be effective, we'd need a centre-forward who has movement and anticipation, which leaves Gestede and Agbonlahor out of the mix.

Bacuna is not now and never has been a right back. He is, however, a midfielder who can play all across the advanced midfield line, even being able to fill in at right-wing. Richards has gone backwards in any defensive position, so his ideal position would be as a box-to-box midfielder. Hutton at least does know what being a right back entails. Replacements are available. For example; Chris Gunter of Reading and Wales, who can defend but is happy being a wingback. Or DeAndre Yedlin of Spurs who is best used as a wingback. Not forgetting DeLaet of Leicester. For a defensive right back, Swansea's Kyle Naughton is as good as they come. A winger who can play either side or, through the middle, who has a wicked delivery and is out of contract is noir Hoillet. Of course for a winger to be effective, we'd need a centre-forward who has movement and anticipation, which leaves Gestede and Agbonlahor out of the mix.

How would folks feel about giving out of contract Charlie McGrew a trial? For those that don't know, McGrew was at Celtic until the end of June. He ran his contract out because he wasn't satisfied with their offer of an extension. McGrew was Celtics player of the season. He is a Scotland international and experienced Champions League and Europa player. He is primarily a left-footed left back who can also play as a central defender or, defensive midfielder.

With Lescott told to find a club and Leeds apparently interested, I think we need another experienced CB, not a young inexperienced player, no matter how much potential they may have. That is why I'd prefer we went for a good solid dependable CB. Someone along the lines of WBA's James Chester or, Stoke's Marc Wilson. With Sanchez wanted in Italy and Westwood quite frankly, not able to do the job. Sunderland's Liam Bridcutt is the optimum choice. He has experience in this league and good all around stats for a DM, including his passing stats. Unlike Westwood his passes are forward and he can tackle and intercept. He isn't as good as Westwood at pointing. At CM, we could do worse than Jeff Hendricks of Derby or, if we want to take a chance, Danny Bakker of ADO Den Haag. With reports, that West Ham are showing an interest in Ayew, we should perhaps be showing an interest in another forward who could play with McCormack. Derby's Chris Martin or, Brentford's Scott Hogan come to mind.

In my opinion, Grealish needs to play in a position that pressurises him into consistently producing an end result/product, so it would be best to move him to the central attacking midfield spot. I fear if he isn't pressurised into coming up with an end product consistently, he will continue down the path he is on, that is a 'luxury' player, only to be used in the final 15 minutes of a game when 3 or 4 goals in the lead.

Wonder what the odds are on McCormack getting a season ending injury in his first game for us are?

AJ, I thought Ayew was a wide midfielder/forward not a "keeper".

With the loss of ball winner Gueye and Fiorentina's interest in Sanchez, surely a bid for Sunderland DM, Liam Bridcutt wouldn't be amiss. With the sale of Clark and the lack of ability of Richards plus the injury record of Okore and the lack of interest from Lescott, A bid of £4 - 5m for WBA's James Chester would be good.

Actually DC, it was Rhodes that tore the defences apart and Gestede picked up the bits and pieces.

I think the point is the type of midfielder. A defensive midfielder, for example, is there to defend the defence by making interceptions and tackles, to break up the oppositions play. He's not there to make surging runs through the opposition or, to hit 40,50 or, 60-yard passes. A deep lying playmaker, (Gardner type), is there to get the ball from theDM and hit the passes. A box-to-box midfielder, (Tshibola), is there, to get the ball from the DM and take the ball forward, playing shorter passes, one-twos to create space and chances for others. A second DM, (Lyden), is there to do the same job as the first DM. Normally, when two Dm's are played it's because. you are playing a three centre-back defence, which gives you a two-man forward line.