JohnCresswell

for the last time, the General will not post about transfers in or outs. any more will be deleted. A question here, too. Now, this question has popped up due to the latest security alerts. Something I've always thought is that a football ground is an easy target for a terrorist attack. Car parked next to the ground, someone with a backpack inside. Whatever. Are the club looking at ways to make the ground safer - no parking/driving zone, increased bag and body checks on EVERYONE, and re-introducing barriers on the supports of the Trinity Stand which is open and a potential weak spot?

OK, someone has to ask it! How did you hurt your hand?!

Depends.

Don't blame it on the sunshine, Don't blame it on the moonlight, Don't blame it on the good times, Blame it on Delaney

Next person to turn this into a Spurs thread again gets carded

Which is untrue. Amazing how these myths propagate. Where did I say it was? I said that was my impression :roll:

Attempting to bring this semi on topic for the moment at least. At the end of the season, looking at the squad, our position and results, it seemed to be in agreement by most here that the squad simply was not good enough. When people talk about 'size of squad', for me that seems to equate to players who are good enough for the first team for you not to be worried when they play - not just how many youth team players you can give a squad number to. And baring in mind we want a season where we actually look like trying to do something rather than struggle for a bit and then be happy for midtable, I felt that the following was a bare minimum: At least a new reserve team goalkeeper - Starting with Taylor always seems to me like it's starting 1-0 down, he gets beaten too easily. Tommy is a good goalkeeper, but one for a team qualifying for europe? A central defender. Ridgewell, possibly off, but again, if he stayed is he really the standard of a European place chasing club? The return of Laursen showed what can happen when there is someone of his quality at the back - but we cannot rely on him to be fit. Then we move on to needing a new right back, and a back up left back is needed too Sorry Barry Bannon). Midfield? Always the most important part of the team imo. I don't think it's any conincidence that when we were down to our last legs, having to play Osbourne in there where he was obviously out of depth, and we need to make sure that this is avoided next season. The possible departure of Davis means we need to bring in two central midfielders I'd say - at least. The appearence of Gardner will hopefully mean that it's two and not three). Up front - Gabby scores goals when he's played here and not on the wing. Sutton will be gone, JPA is gone. Leaving us with Moore, Gabby, Carew and possibly Maloney, who I can never work out where he is actually playing (not 'having a go' - I think he is mon's best signign so far). But what happens should Carew get injured? None of the players left can be desribed as being particulary strong, though Gabby has bulked up an awful lot over the past few months. So that's what? Seven signings? And I didn't expect any by now, and I'm not suprised there haven't been any - in fact I'll be suprised if there are any in a months time - O'Neill doesn't seem to buy players like that - reading what Celtic fans have said about him confirmed my thoughts too - he never signed a Bosman signing whilst up there once, and always seems to leave things to the last minute - transfer deadline day deals - giving the impression that he hasn't planned it all that well. but that seems to be the general thing that O'Neill gives off - he often reminds me of mr bean - not his decisions, but his mannerisms, his stressed, rushed look about him. Are we to expect seven or so players in still? No. Do we need them? Yes. Does that mean we won't do anything next season? No. But I'd probably be a bit more condfident if we had got someone by now. It's not a moan, it's not a fret. Just a ramble. Back to saying I think we should sign van den borre as he scored a hatrick for me on FM now

A big VillaTalk welcome to LL114

Please keep this thread on topic. Any more posts for the sake of it, or random crap that is off topic will not be tolerated.

Middle of July I was told when I bought mine at the ticket office, Pablo.

Sneijder story starting up again? They must be trying to desperately make people forget the Viduka signing for small heath on £60,000 a week

The transfer window isn't even open yet, but some fans are chomping at the bit, ready to have a look at the first signing of the summer. A sign of the times, I suppose - it's been a few seasons since Villa fans have been able to actively look forward to the club making some genuine good signings. And if you believe the newspapers, it might not be long until Villa make their first purchase of the season. With news filtering through that it seems Scott Parker has agreed to move to West Ham from Newcastle United, they now have the midfielder to replace wantaway Nigel Reo-Coker. The captain, who felt he was on the end of some unwarranted criticism from West Ham fans last season, struck up some inspiration form towards the end of the year to help keep the colour copiers up. He's been strongly linked with a Villa for a few weeks now and after his agent has tried (unsuccessfully) to tempt Manchester United into a bid, it now seems that he is willing to settle at joining Villa instead. Reports during last week said that Reo-Coker could be joining when Martin O'Neill arrives back from holiday, and Reo-Coker's agent is quoted in the Sunday Mercury as saying "What has been in the 'papers is not far wrong". The same newspaper links Villa with a move for Luke Young (now that will make things confusing), and Jason Koumas admitting that Villa are thinking about making a bid for him. Saying that, 'The Sunday Mercury' is a sister newspaper of 'The Evening Mail', a local 'paper that has once again carried quotes from General Krulak on the VillaTalk Messageboard without crediting their source. Any long term VT readers may remember the 'Gary Rowe saga'. With Reo-Coker in, it'd allow Steven Davis's departure to be completed, possibly to Fulham. Davis's break-through season probably made him look better than he was, seeing as he was the shining light in a bunch of players who really weren't playing well at all. He was then pushed out into a foreign position, never recovered his form and often found himself not even on the bench last season. One to annoy the Wolves fans, the 'News of the World' is claiming that rather than stay at the Custard Bowl as hinted last week, Michael Kightly could be set for a £3million move to Villa. Whilst Kightly was without any doubt the best player for Wolves following his signing in January, I'm sure they'd be able to console themselves with the fact that they only bought him in January for £25,000. That's some price increase. For what it's worth, which I know is probably very little, my thoughts on this are that I'd be very surprised if we saw a signing in the next few weeks, let alone next week. O'Neill strikes me as a man who needs to feel totally sure in the players he's signing - no Djemba-Djemba type buys here - and it's too early for this yet. He also appears to leave things late - signings on the last day of the transfer window seem to be something he's always done at clubs, so if nobody comes in next week it's not quite time to start to panic.

Bids don't just come out of the blue. It isn't Football Manager Clubs are sounded out about availability, players and agents are asked about whether they would be interested....otherwise putting together a bid wouls be a waste of time. The transfer window isn't even open yet.

I would suggest that the first signing may be a player many of us have never heard of before. What people need to remember is that ONeill likes to make he's 100% sure on any transfer. That's why he often seems 'rushed; signing people at the last minute, he wants to be sure of it. There is more football to absorb this week, with European Qualifiers. I'd suggest he or one of his team may be at a couple of games making sure that the players he want really are what he wants before he attempts to sign them.

Bardsley (remember him, he was the one that disappeared oonce he'd been told we weren't going to sign him permanently) rumoured to be off to Everton

Posts deleted to help distinguish the difference between comments and valid questions being asked.

Theres a caption competition photo if ever I've seen one.

What's the forums view on the band Art Brut? Brilliant, or as my girlfriend calls them - "That Shouty Band"? The new album has just leaked too.....

Nope - I dont think hes any better than what we have. Saying that, he's on a free, and I don't think we can rely on Laursen for more than twenty games, so....

Just worth posting this now, seeing as silly season has started. In January, we warned that if people are caught out posting, basdically, bollocks in here to do with hearing things just to create a stir, then we will ban. We were kind in January, we didn't do so, but I've noticed one member who did do such a thing as beginning to do it again. So I'll recommend that you stop it. ta.

How about Ben Haim - also available on a Bosman?

Sorry for being a bit more realistic, but I see Richard Wright has been released by Everton. Would do for back up goalkeeper, would he not?

How about signing a striker illegally and playing him all season? There doesn't sem to be any major punishment for this anymore.

Well the results were pretty conclusive in the end. Who did you vote as your Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Most Improved Player of the Year? Get your suit on and enter the Villa Talk Player Awards 2007. Most Improved Player of the Year This category was aimed at giving praise to the players who may not be thought of has being the best player of the year, but to recognise the achievement of a much better playing performance that last season. All three categories had run away winners, but this year's winner had the highest percentage result for this category than the others did for there, perhaps recognising exactlly how far the chap has come on this season. The runners up were: Olof Mellberg - Olof has put in a string of commanding performances this season, and seems to be much happier without the Captain's armband. He even managed to score the first goal of the season - the first goal at Arsenal's new Ashburton Grove stadium. Gabriel Agbonlahor - Gabby shot to fame at the end of last season, and has gone on to become one of the first names on the team sheet. A fantastic rise to the top. Gareth Barry - Well, he wins most other awards.... Liam Ridgewell - Liam didn't have a great season last year, but under O'Neill, whenever he has played he has looked assured and confident. Lets just hope if he does make the suggested move to Small Heath, he becomes the 'old' Ridgewell again. and the winner is....Wilfred Bouma! The Dutch international has reclaimed his place in the Holland squad and become one of the players in a Villa shirt you can guarentee will have a solid game. Not bad for a player who only a year ago was havingsome people ask "did we really pay £3.5million for him?!". Freddy has clearly enjoyed having Martin O'Neill as manager and shown not only some excellent defending but a willingness to get forward. When he first joined the club we were told Frddy has a decent left foot on him and the ability to score a few goals. If anyone deserves to score Villa's final goal of the season, its Bouma, who has saved Randy Lerner and Martin O'Neill an awful lot of money during the (hopeful) summer spending spree - no left back needed - we've got Freddie! Bouma got 91% of the vote. Young Player of the Year Having not played for the first team, Barry Bannan was not up for vote. The runners up: Luke Moore - he may have spent most of the season out injured, but he managed to impress some voters. Luke has still managed to chip in with some goals and had a good bit of form in the early part of the season. Ashley Young - In recent weeks Young has performed to the potential that Martin saw reason for spending £9million on him. A fabulous goal last week perhaps helped convince his voters. Craig Gardner - Is he thaat defensive midfielder we seem to need? It certainly seems that way - Craig isn't frightened to put his foot into a tackle - I can imagine it might end up with a few sendings off in his career - but if he continues to play the way he has been, I don't think people will mind. Gary Cahill - No herotic, acrobatic goal this season, but Gary polled over 15% this year after a steady and strong first full season in the Villa first team. He has partnered a fair few defenders this year, and managed to do so with class and few mistakes. Nice one Gary. And the winner is...Gabriel Agbonlahor! Gabby has scored nine goals so far this season - and frightened an awful lot of defences! He is a fantastic player for Villa to have - as not only does he possess a decent shot on him but his pace is something which I really do not think can be matched by anyone else in the Premiership. He's won us a fair few penalties on the way this season, and had he not had been needed on the wing for a major part of the season, I can imagine he'd have even more goals to his name. He polled 80%. Player of the Year The top three runners up were... Wilfred Bouma - the popular left back nearly made it a 'Double' this year, but had to make do with third place this time. Gabriel Agbonlahor - these awards make it sound like we only had three players doing well this year, which isn't the case, but y'know, it's you lot that voted for it! And the winner is.....Gareth Barry! What a suprise. We might as well call this the Gareth Barry award now! Once again Barry has been the star performer this year, whether it's been on left wing, left back or in the center of midfield. Gareth has managed to break into the England squad now, and will represent his country at 'B' level once the season is over, against the Imternational heavyweights of Albania. I joke, but Barry has shown he is more than capable at playing at the highest level, and we are delighted that he chose to stay and become the captain of Aston Villa rather than falling for the bleatings of Redknapp at Portsmouth during pre-season. Three players may have been singled out here, but I think it's appropriate here to thank all the players who have pulled on the Villa shirt this season for their efforts, and of course, Martin O'Neill, his backroom staff and Randy Lerner along with the rest of the board for their continued enthuiasm and effort into making Aston Villa a top club again. It may be a few more years until we are right at the top, but we'll do it.