1958Villan

7 minutes ago, VillanousOne said:

ACNE?

African Cup of Nations.

We seem to be willing to offer cash+Gestede for Hernandez from Hull.

Who we have zero chance of getting.

So why not offer the same deal for Kodjia.

Just a daft thought but, maybe Southampton would be willing to do a deal for Charlie Austin.

Last season he played 16 times in the championship, scoring 9 goals. In the premiership, he played 7 times, scoring 1 goal. Unsurprisingly, he is far more prolific in the championship.

In the 4-5 month's he was a premiership player, he had 2 injury periods, one for a hamstring injury and one for a knee injury.

We know his knees are suspect but, as a club, we have experience of looking after shot knees. I refer of course to Paul McGrath, who we were told was finished because of his shot knees before he joined us. And yet we had the privilege of watching the master for 7 years. 

Partnering Austin, who is a clever player, with a younger player who could learn from him, could pay handsome dividends  in the long run. 

If the transfer window was to shut today, or if there are no further inward changes to the squad, Holloway could be right when he says he could have been kind in putting us at 16th. We look like nailed on relegation candidates at the moment.

2 hours ago, useless said:

Champions and some of the players who are villains at the moment to be heroes by the end of the season. Don't think Newcastle will run away with it, like some think. There will probably be a surprise team in the mix as well.

 

Nice Beach Boys reference, useless.

12 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

With everyone fit, we have a squad which should be more than able to hold their own in the championship!

................................Gollini..................................

Richards.....Elphick.............Okore...........Amavi

...................Tshibola...........Gardener................

........Traore..............Ayew................Grealish.....

.............................New Striker?..........................

 

Obviously the players are interchangeable, my point is that our squad, for the championship is not as terrible as intimated on here, and certainly not relegation material like some of the bollox I keep reading!

 

Sorry Jamaican but, that line-up would get thumped.

Traore, for a start, gets injured if someone looks at him cross-eyed. In this division, I doubt that he would play much, if any, more than 8-10 part games.

Ayew isn't a team player, only playing for himself. He never picks his head up to see where, or when, a pass could be made.

Grealish is full of clever little tricks and touches but, he has very little end product. He is what I would call a luxury player, someone to put on for the final 20 minutes to entertain the crowd when you are 4 or 5 goals up.

Tshibola and Richards have absolutely no mental self-control. They abandon their duties to rush forward at every opportunity, even when the opportunity doesn't really exist.

Okore is only one-tenth of the player he thinks he is. Injury prone because of his wrong choices when defending.

New Striker, If we don't have players capable of creating chances, it really doesn't matter a rat's arse who it is.

If Tshibola is to be played as one of the two in a 4-2-3-1 it is going to need an experienced DM next to him, someone who will talk him through a game, letting him know when it's OK to bomb forward and when he has to stay back. For example, when the wingbacks are up the field.

Playing two in deep-lying midfield positions, actually calls for a three-man back line, with two forwards. 

On 30/07/2016 at 11:03, Ginko said:

@1958Villan Fair enough if that's your opinion, and I think it's realistic in the sense that those players you mentioned would fight tooth and nail to play for this great club, I just think some people question some of your choices for one reason or another.

For me personally, I question these players because Tony has claimed we're aiming to buy players not just to get us out of the Championship, but with PL potential too. I'm not sure the players you mentioned have that but I'm no scout so I'll leave that up to our scouting network. If I had to choose though, I'd err on the side that says most of who you suggested do not have that potential, but time will tell I suppose.

I do, however, strongly question the wisdom of playing a fullback in midfield and Bacuna anywhere. He shouldn't even be on the bench for me.

I like your choices for RB but don't agree they're realistic as they could doubtless play for another PL team or elsewhere in a top league in another country. Likewise I don't think it's realistic that we'll ship out four CBs (or even if such wholesale changes are wise) and I don't see Sané or Chester coming here, nor Wilson either but perhaps he might with enough cash thrown at him. I also don't want our CB pairing to be a player who's been here five minutes in Elphick and a young loanee thrust into a very physical league like the Championship.

I doubt we'll move all three of Westwood, Sanchez and Veretout, but Bridcutt and Thorne would be decent shouts.

However, the thought of Hoilett being Bacuna's competition makes me feel ill and whereas Green has looked promising in pre-season, having an inexperienced youth player back up a left back playing left wing is uninspiring and I think we'd be very weak in the wide areas like we are already. These are key positions for me to be filled with a bit of quality. I can't honestly think of specific individuals, but there has to be better options. An actual left winger with some experience of the league must exist.

Hoolahan is a fine shout and might come with the right incentive, Grealish is a no-brainer and has to be involved. Doubt we'll shift three forwards but hopefully two of them and I'd like us to show real ambition by spending big bucks on a quality striker, someone more exciting than those you've suggested. Again, these players exist but I'm no scout.

 

 

Ginkgo, I appreciate and agree with what you say about some of those I have mentioned but, my reason for choosing them is purely getting out of the championship, knowing that some will have to be replaced when/if promotion comes along. I'm thinking of someone like Bridcutt when I say that for, while he is excellent in the championship, moving into the premiership seems to be a half-step too far. Although he'd still be better than Westwood.

I chose Hoilet because he can play both wings and centrally. He does have a great delivery from either side. Plus he is free, leaving money in the pot for decent strikers.

I thought of moving both Bennett and Bacuna into midfield because neither one is effective as a fullback. Bennett does have a great delivery from open play and corners and free-kicks, while Bacuna has been played out of position most of his time at the club. On the very rare occasions he has been played in a more forward role, he has been aggressive and definitely not shot shy.

As for the centre backs, Kalas spent a season partnering Ayala at Middlesborough on loan. I know Chester is fed-up with being used as a fullback at WBA and would welcome a move. As for Wilson, Stoke are already spending big and looking at centre backs. He is experienced and like most of the rest, he is a solid dependable player.

I think you are wrong about the fullbacks. Gunter is at Reading and has a £1 million buy-out clause, which no one has activated yet, although I am informed Celtic are thinking seriously about it. Yedlin is at most, a third choice right back at Spurs but is much better than that. As for DeLaet, I believe we have already made an inquiry.

That leaves the forwards. Martin and Hogan have been regular scorers, Hogan was injured for most of the last season, only playing bits of the last eight games, in which he scored seven times. Gregory is in the division below but looks ready to step up. The three of them have some things our present forwards don't, namely movement and versatility. Versatility in that they don't just rely on crosses to score from, they also make runs that ask for balls along the ground.

2 hours ago, Don_Simon said:

You spend all that time writing your list of new names, then come up with a midfield four of Joe Bennett, Liam Bridcutt, Geoff Thomas and Leandro Bacuna?

May god have mercy on us all.

 

And just where did I mention Geoff Thomas?

Or do you mean George Thorne?

I've tried to give choices of players who we stand a realistic chance of getting in. Player choices who I think would blend together and we'd have two fighting for each position, based on the manager's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.

If you would bother reading the post properly, you would see that at no time did I suggest both Bridcutt and Thorne being bought. The words 'either' and 'or' should really be giving you the clue.

I don't mind, in fact, I look forward to and enjoy the debate criticism can bring, as long as it is constructive criticism that comes with realistic, viable alternatives.

So Don_Simon, lets hear your thoughts on who you would let go and who you would bring in.. 

1 minute ago, sexbelowsound said:

You say he's not a football fan in the broader sense and then come up with that list?

OK sexbelowsound, remembering we aren't the big name club we used to be, nor as attractive a proposition as we once were.

Who would you try to bring in to give us a chance of promotion. 

2 hours ago, VILLAMARV said:

Well, thing is with that, that short of sitting here checking out transfermarkt for a few hipster names, I dont know.

Of the players we've been linked with I like the idea of DeLaet and Morrison.
 

 

I guess your not a football fan in the broader sense then VILLAMARV, more a Villa supporter.

For right back I can come up with three names, of players we could get who would be comfortable playing wingback. DeLaet of Leicester. Gunter of Reading and Yedlin of Spurs. I'd move Bacuna to right midfield and Bennet to left midfield.

At centre back, I'd get rid of Lescott, Richards, Clark and Okore. I'd bring in either Paddy McNair of Man U or, Tomas Kalas of Chelsea on loan. I'd buy Lamine Sane of Bordeaux or, James Chester of WBA or, Marc Wilson of Stoke.

I'd move Westwood, Sanchez and Veretout on and get either Bridcutt of Sunderland, who is excellent in the Championship or, George Thorne of Derby, who I think is still injured, as holding/defensive midfielders. 

I'd get Junior Hoilet, who is unattached to be Bacuna's competition on the right of midfield and Andre Green could be Bennetts on the left.

As the middle man to teach Grealish I'd try for Wes Hoolahan from Norwich.

That leaves forwards. I'd get rid of Agbonlahor, Kozak and Gestede and get two of Chris Martin of Derby or, Scott Hogan of Brentford or, Lee Gregory of Millwall. 

1 minute ago, Jareth said:

De-laet, Morrison, Barry, Mcormack and we would be set

 

 

Don't you feel that Morrison and Barry would be large gambles, Jareth?

2 hours ago, VILLAMARV said:

for me in my ideal little bubble I'd like to see

Defence:
in - Right Back
out - Richards, Lescott

midfield:
in - Central midfielder
out - Veretout, Gana, Sanchez

Forwards:
in - Striker, Right wing, Left wing
out - Sinclair, Gabby

think we'd have a well balanced squad then at least with decent enough cover for injuries.

 

It would be interesting if you would make suggestions as to the players you would like to see coming in, as well as those you think should move, VILLAMARV.

14 hours ago, sne said:

Mourinho has (according to reports...) told (Bastian Schweinsteiger)  Adnan Januzaj, Tim Fosu-Mensah, Paddy McNair, Tyler Blackett, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Andreas Pereira, Will Keane and James Wilson o find new clubs. Either permanent or on loan.

Anyone worth scavenging? 

 

Januzai and McNair for me.

McNair has impressed as a young centre back, while Januzai is an exciting prospect, who does have an end product that will become more consistent the more he plays. 

pas5898, Amavi is probably at least another month away from becoming fit enough to play in the first team.

Rushing him or, Traore back from their injuries, could be a huge error. How many times has a player been rushed back after injury, only to be injured even more badly?

It's been reported by several reliable sources, that while Ayew will not actively seek a move, his ambition is to play in the premiership this coming season. Now it's being reported that West Ham may be thinking of making an offer for him. 

I like your point about us lacking an experienced combative midfielder, known to most of us as a defensive or, holding midfielder. If Gueye goes you will be right as what we'll be left with is Sanchez or, Westwood or, Tshibola and while one is vastly inexperienced, the other two would be easily overrun, especially Westwood. I was wondering if you had any idea of whom you would prefer in the spot.

I feel we do really need another right back/wingback as Bacuna is not a defender and Richards, on the evidence of last season, cannot be relied on.

Didn't Sergio Leon write the music for Clint Eastwood's 1960's trio of spaghetti westerns?

Having a defensive fullback and a wingback, on both sides is the optimum, I would think.

At right back my choices would be, Kyle Naughton of Swansea would be my defensive back, with Chris Gunter of Reading being the wingback. Bacuna I'd play as right midfield.

On the left side, I would keep Cissokho as the defensive back and have Amavi as the wingback. Bennett I would move to left midfield.

Of the centre backs, I'd keep Elphick, Baker and Toner. I think another 2 centre backs would be sufficient. I'd go for James Chester of WBA and Tomas Kalas of Chelsea.

There is so little happening at Villa that the papers are recycling old news.

Romain Saiss, the Angers Moroccan DM refusing to talk to us about a move, last January.

A £5m bid going in for Jonathan Kodjia, even though Bristol City have made it clear they have received no bids.

Liverpool interested in signing Jordan Amavi.

Villa have a new owner.

Still they do say the darkest hour is just before dawn. How stupid a saying is that? Like anyone would expect the darkest hour to be mid morning.

Hard to make a judgement really.

He did brilliantly in his first season but, how many times do you see a player have a brilliant first season, only to never come near that level of performance again.

1 hour ago, mjmooney said:

 

 

Not at all an ITK mj.

It's just that I member what I've read. Like the first report of Burnley's possible £6m interest in Westwood also said, they might be interested in Gestede too, for the same amount.

#

On to more cheerful news, it looks like Celtic will be coming back with an improved offer for Sinclair.

Add to that the deal for Sanchez moving to Marseille has been agreed but put on hold, while the clubs talk about a loan deal for Veretout.

Veretout has apparently told the club that he doesn't want to play in the championship and wants a move back to France, which is good in that it means his contract doesn't need to be paid up. Get him out on loan for a fee and it's a shop window for him to get a permanent move.

That's three wages off the books and a bit of income brought in.

All that's needed now is to get some more of the non-performers of last season out. 

The only move I can see happening for Lescott is to the MLS, maybe that could be the only move for Agbonlahor too.

Gil, I think, has also said he doesn't want to play in the championship, so we might as well get him gone.

With Westwood reported as being on Burnley's list, it looks like things could start moving in the right direction. 

5 hours ago, useless said:

The Chronicle are reporting that Newcastle have discussed the possibility of signing Sinclair. I think it would be a mistake to sell him to a promotion rival.

Edit: The Chronicle is a local paper in the North East of England, pretty much their version of the Birmingham Mail, might even be run by the same company.

 

I'd take a straight swap with Henri Saivet coming our way..

3 hours ago, Jareth said:

So I think I read that Richards, Lescott and Bacuna were not involved today and that this means they are offski. Get them out and sign two strikers and a 'creative' player and we'll be golden.

 

Don't get too excited Jareth, Richards and Bacuna were both injured in Austria and Les cotton replaced Okore today. 

I've always thought, even when he was at Middlesbrough, that Bennett's real position should be as a wide left midfielder.

My reasoning for that being that he has great delivery from corners and free-kicks, as well as from open play but, as a defender he is pretty clueless.

3 minutes ago, Pilchard said:

Good.

Bought in as Delph's replacement but wasn't anywhere near good enough, sadly. 

Vertout out next please. Another Paddy Riley French midfielder mistake.

 

Guyed is a DM who played box-to-box the season before he joined us because his club had an injury crisis.

As a DM for us he was the 2and best DM in the prem, only a hiker behind N'golo Mantel at Leicester.

We should be talking about him as a £25m player.