WakefieldVillan

Currently half way through season 4 of 6 of The Soprano's and really enjoying it, Pine Barrens been my favourite episode so far, can't wait to see how it all pans out (no spoilers please)!

Watched a couple of episodes of The Wire but didn't get into it, do I need to go back to that? Judging by comments on here, I think I do.

I would say my all time favourites are Breaking Bad, The Soprano's, Prison Break (first two seasons) & Sons of Anarchy - hard to call which one I like most though. 

I have the last season of GOT to still watch too, but heard the ending isn't great?!(Again, no spoilers) - Add to that Peaky Blinders & Handmaid's Tale are also ones I've enjoyed so far.

I must say I was pretty underwhelmed (and shocked) when I heard about Jota as a potential signing but having time to think about it I think he could be a decent signing for us.

I remember thinking back to when the Birmingham signed him and thought it was a great signing for them and although perhaps his form hasn't been quite as good there I think that is more a reflection on the blues than it is on him.

His he better than Adomah? For me yes. His better than Green? Currently yes. Will he improve our squad? Yes. 

I would however like to think that we have other (better) players lined up for Jota to compete for a place with.

34 minutes ago, S-Platt said:

North Stand I pay £644 for 2 adults and 2 under 18s bargain but that was early bird prices in the family area. 

29 minutes ago, rodders0223 said:

I paid about £500 last year lower trinity restricted view seats and about £550 this year in the Doug Ellis.
Word of advice, don't take the restricted view seats in Trinity ...and it ain't due to the view.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks guys appreciated.

My preference would be Holte End but will decide once I know more details.

I am interested in getting two season tickets next season, first ones ever (glory supporter ) !

Not done any proper research but can anyone tell me what sort of price I can expect (roughly) and does it vary much from stand to stand? Also when do they usually go on sale?

Thanks in advance.

2 hours ago, MrDuck said:

He's been really good for a while now. Should be our first choice RB going into new season.

I confess I have seen literally nothing of Guilbert but I am hoping that he has come here to be first choice and is a big improvement on what we already have (Elmohamady & Bree).

Elmo had a decent finish to the season after a rough patch in December (particularly the home games against Stoke and Leeds that stand out as poor performances) - OK has an experienced squad member but not a regular starter hopefully.

11 hours ago, jacketspuds said:

Although I'm not overly keen on loan signings, I wouldn't mind us bringing in a young high potential superstar that we would otherwise have no chance of signing permanently.

Reece James from Chelsea is a class act, would love a loan deal (with a view to permanent), can't see it happening though.

Gutted to see Big Jed go, but I think it is probably for the best now given he will be 35 next season.

Isn't the most gifted footballer (understatement) but what he lacked footballing wise, he more than made up with his aerial dominance, strength and passion.

Chuffed to bits that he is leaving on a high and wish him all the best in the future whatever that may entail.

Ultimately I can see Kalinic being our first choice keeper next season , I feel he has more of a presence than Jed and is more capable overall.

That said, Steer has had a really good run, produced a wonderful save in the semi final 1st leg from Rodriguez and topped it all off with the penalty heroics, he also made everything look pretty comfortable in the closing minutes at Wembley.

Both keepers will feel that they can be no 1 which can only be a good thing and under the coaching of Neil Cutler I actually think we are fine going into the new season, albeit in the Premier League.

Bunn nowhere to be seen to which can only be a good thing!

6 minutes ago, kurtsimonw said:

I think buying from the Championship or League 1 is just dangerous. It's far too risky, especially when a number of them are expensive. 

We should be buying 2 players tops that are only proven at a lower level, and I include Mings in that. All the mentally and youth in the world isn't going to overcome experience and quality IMO. 

If we're bringing in 6/7 players, then I'd only want to see 2 from the likes of Mings/Lolley/Maupay. A couple of experienced PL players, then try and get value on foreign quality. 

I agree, I have said in previous posts that we shouldn't just be looking solely in the championship, I just want players that fit in and improve our squad, regardless of the league they play in or their nationality. 

Just to clarify I am not on some sort of commission with the football league for suggesting a whole host of Championship players that we should sign  Far from it.

The names I have mentioned are just ones that I think can definitely make the step up, are young, ambitious and could grow with what we have already got. Players that we can improve and will not lose money on or players that are coming for one last pay check.

First things first, our concentration, for me, should be to try tie up the deals for El Ghazi, Mings, Hause and Tuanzebe, with the latter being probably the hardest acquisition. It is vital that we keep the strong nucleus of our team to keep the dressing room spirit that we have from the season gone. We then need to add to it with real quality and replace the weak links within our squad.

I don't for one minute think that we will get (or go for) every decent championship player, but I see no harm in one or two if they are of real quality, hungry for success and are capable of the step up and are the right character to have within the dressing room. 

I realise that the market abroad is a lot more cost effective and I am sure we are searching wide and far for some hidden gems to find are own Bernado Silva or Riyad Mahrez and I would be concerned if our scouting network wasn't. 

I feel any signing made can come with a degree of uncertainty, we've had terrible signings going down the foreign route with the likes of Tonev, Helenius ETC but also wasted huge amounts on the likes of McCormack and Gestede from Championship teams.

All that said, watching the video of Smith and Purslow makes me feel confident that we are in the right hands and it is going to be an exciting summer ahead.

7 hours ago, kurtsimonw said:

If our first team looks like that for the opening game... well, at least we'll be prepared for the Championship the following season.

How do you expect it to look or want it to look (realistically)? 

3 minutes ago, Rob182 said:

See my post on the previous page. I have little overseas knowledge also, so instead of suggesting we sign the Championship Team of the Season, I asked for others’ input and did a little digging on some of the top goalscorers in the European leagues. 

My post wasn’t a pop at you btw, I’ve seen numerous people on social media suggesting the same players. I just think it’s short-sighted to just go with what you’ve seen in the Championship.

Ah sorry mate, I think I was typing my long post with all my "championship" players at the same time you posted

No don't get me wrong I agree with you, I hope our scouts are scouring every single country for class players and I'm sure they are, the ones I've mentioned are just suggestions that I think are better than what we've got. I don't for one minute think we will get them all  

Genuinely excited to see who we do bring in

9 minutes ago, Rob182 said:

I get the impression that NWSE, Purslow and Smith want Villa to be a top 10 Prem team (realistic or not). I don’t see a team with that ambition buying Lolley, Bowen, Maupay and Phillips.

Don’t get me wrong, they’re good players with potential (less so for Lolley, because of his age), but you’d want all 4 of them to step up a level to perform how we’d want them to in the Premier League.

Instead of spending £10-£15m on numerous players like that, I’d hope we’d spend similar amounts on players that have proven themselves at a higher level (ie: Serie A, La Liga etc).

If we were to sign just one of those players, I think I’d go for Maupay. The French Glenn Murray. (That’s his chant nailed on, right?)

Any names that come to mind from Serie A & La Liga?

Not being funny, I've said before my knowledge of foreign players is poor so just wondering who'd be on your radar.

2 minutes ago, Johnnyp said:

Your signings and list of potential signings are a bit championship heavy for me. Ipswich tried to be clever and signed young league one talent. Ipswich are in league one now. Not opposed to signing championship players but the mix has to be right. 

Fair comment.

I've obviously watched a lot of Championship football the past few seasons hence some of the names suggested. Out of the 6 names in the starting line ups, 2 were playing premier league football last season and the other 4 will be in the future in my opinion. Now whether that is with us or at other clubs who knows but for me they all have the right ingredients to play at that level for sure.

I don't see the comparison with Ipswich, maybe when we were under Lambert and we tried the 'young & hungry' approach we may have been, but we were essentially buying cheap. Ipswich have been struggling for the past few seasons and probably needed the relegation as we did.

Whom would be your suggestions?  

I like Bowen, but he would probably cost more. Josh Murphy who's been mentioned above actually, he's one I think we could get cheaper now Cardiff have been relegated. Staying in the Championship Daniel James from Swansea or Jack Clarke from Leeds, Ryan Kent at Rangers?!

Not sure if most of these players would cost more or less though to be honest.

I'd like to see something like this by the end of the window;

First choice XI       Second String

Steer                       Kalinic

Guilbert                  Elmohamady

New LB                  Hause

Tuanzebe             Chester

Mings                   Schindler 

Bowen                  Murphy

Phillips                 Whelan 

McGinn                Lansbury

Grealish               Hourihane

Abraham             Maupay 

Lolley                   El Ghazi           

Other squad players or loans out;

Sarkic, Bree, Davis, O Hare, Kodjia, Green, Hepburn-Murphy

Other potential signings (or loan);

Allioski? Justin? Marriott? Mount? Tomori? Carroll? 

Sell/Release;

Nyland, Bunn, Hutton, De Laet, Taylor, Richards, McCormack, Elphick, Bjarnsson, Jedinak, Gardner, Adomah, Hogan.

I think key is keeping a good nucleus of last season's squad, adding quality first team additions, especially in wide areas, adding more youth, retaining a bit of experience & signing good characters with ambition and that are on the way up not down or here for one last pay day.

You can tell by my suggestions we've been playing in the championship a few seasons, obviously these are just suggestions which I think would make us much stronger but hoping that the scouts can pick some cheap quality foreign players up and also some decent lower league players too, whatever happens it should be an exciting summer! 

58 minutes ago, wilko154 said:

Interesting to see the various views on our squad, I would go with this...

 

Orjan Nyland - Keep, challenge for the number 1 shirt for a season.

Jed Steer - Keep, challenge for the number 1 shirt for a season. Starts with the shirt for me.

Kalinic - Keep, challenge for the number 1 shirt for a season.

Mark Bunn - Release - out of contract.

Micah Richards - Release - out of contract.

Neil Taylor - Keep, challenge a new left back for the starting spot.

Tommy Elphick - Release - out of contract.

James Chester - Keep

Ritchie De Laet - Release - out of contract.

Alan Hutton - Release - out of contract.

James Bree - Still only 21, loan to a Championship side.

Ahmed Elmohamady - Keep, challenge for the right back starting spot.

Frédéric Guilbert - Keep, challenge for the right back starting spot. Starts with the shirt for me.

Aaron Tshibola - Sell or loan if no success.

Glenn Whelan - Keep, backup for the first team and experience in the dressing room.

Birkir Bjarnason - Sell.

Mile Jedinak - Release - out of contract.

Jack Grealish - Keep.

John McGinn - Keep.

Conor Hourihane - Keep.

Henri Lansbury - Sell. Seems like a Smith player so there may be a chance he will want to keep hold of him.

Gary Gardner - Sell.

Andre Green - Keep, challenge for the left wing starting spot.

Albert Adomah - Keep, think he is going to find it hard to retain his place in the side but worth retaining as a backup and dressing room experience.

Ross McCormack - Sell or loan if no success.

Callum O'Hare - Loan out at the highest level possible.

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy - Loan out at the highest level possible.

Kienan Davis - Loan out at the highest level possible.

Scott Hogan - Personally think we will sell, wouldn't surprise me to see him stay with Smith trying to get him back to his best.

Johnny Kodjia - Keep, challenge for first team position.

 

Of our group of players we have in on loan:

Tammy Abraham - Buy, unfortunately think he will remain at Chelsea.

Axel Tuanzebe - Buy, unfortunately think he will remain at Man Utd.

Kortney Hause - Buy, challenge for starting spot at centre back.

Anwar El Ghazi - Buy.

Tyrone Mings - Buy.

 

Agree with most but I'd;

Keep Lansbury, loan Green, sell/release Adomah and Taylor 

Think IF Lansbury can stay fit he's still got something to offer, Hause as back up LB/CB

I rate him highly but I think anything over £10 million and we should probably look elsewhere. If we could get him say for £8 million that would be a cracking piece of business, perhaps we could offer an unwanted player as part of the deal?!

I'm not going to lie, regardless of the fact that he is a very good footballer, who can dribble, pass, has a terrific shot on him, the fact that he supports us is definitely a major reason for me wanting him to sign - For me, it just feels right. 

We already have the gaffer and the skipper (and the kit man) who support this wonderful club and I think Joe would fit in immediately and hit the ground running. 

17 minutes ago, Mazrim said:

Leicester were a bigger pull. They're not now. I'm not having that. Not that I'm bothered about Barnes.

And Gayle can get to feck. Do not want. Even his mother can't stand his face, but he's also out of his depth in the PL. Maupay could step up. Gayle cannot and has not.

We have just spent 3 seasons in the championship, a few years ago Leicester were Premier League champions, I get we are a "bigger" club but we need to solidate our status among the elite.

For what it's worth with Barnes, if he was at A N other club and it was a choice between Leicester or Villa, I think we would have a chance, but I couldn't envisage him leaving the foxes for us.

I agree on Gayle and Maupay though. The latter all day long for me.

24 minutes ago, hippo said:

Could we raid leicester for Albrighton and Harvey barnes ?

Barnes would be a fantastic signing, but it's a no from me for Albrighton, I think we need to move on from the ex players personally

15 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

No chance of Barnes. He started in 11 games following his return to Leicester. He's not taking a step down nor are they selling him yet. 

This. Unfortunately. Hopefully in time we will be a bigger pull than the Leicester's of this world.

I can see him leaving the club as a makeweight for someone that we are pursuing, my hopes would be either a deal with Brentford for Maupay and a return to the Bees for Scott or a deal involving Jack Marriott from Derby (not just because he scored against us) he has impressed me every time I have seen him and would be an obvious upgrade given Hogans' Villa form.

4 minutes ago, villabromsgrove said:

I know that club policy is to buy young players with all the right characteristics, but if you look at the stable Premier clubs they generally have a rock steady 'older' Centre Back in a regular pairing. 

Christopher Schindler was excellent again last season for Huddersfield and was head and shoulders above the rest of an admittedly poor team. He's just turned 29 but could he add 'Premier' know how to a CB pairing with Tyrone Mings to get us through a difficult first season back in the top tier? 

I think Schindler is a good shout, Huddersfield's player of the season I think last season, yes I know they have had a terrible season as a club, but he has been a very good signing for them and has a few years premier league experience. 

Wouldn't take many from players the 3 relegated teams this season, but I think for the right price (which I think it would be) then he would be a solid squad addition.

If someone told me 10 years ago how much I would like this guy I would have sent them to a mental institution!

He has had such a positive influence since he came to the club and will always respect him for that and his attitude since he came here, as both a player and now as a coach.

I may be biased but I really do believe that he should have another year with us (in the premier league - yes that feels so good to type!) and continue to learn the trade under Smith.

Also, if and when he does leave, I don't think Middlesborough is the right fit personally. 

I'd be happy for him to stay but at the moment he his our 3rd choice keeper and at 28 he needs to be playing therefore I think he will be sold.

Currently Jed is first choice, deservedly, but I think come the start of the season Kalinic will be the one between the sticks.

Sarkic third choice. And Bunn nowhere to be seen. Praise be.

Has definitely improved since the season went on but I really hope we can get a quality left back in for next season or this guy will be found wanting time after time.

Defensively not great, abysmal going forward, would make such a difference to our side to have a real quality left back who can defend, tackle, head, be comfortable on the ball, pass, cross ETC - Basically, not be Taylor . 

I would like to see him moved on completely to be honest. I would have Hause as back up to A N other but unfortunately I have a feeling he will be still here which sends shudders down my spine.