skarroki

Looking too much into this I'm sure, but Vaclik has also changed his representatives recently and is now under the agency of Unique Sports Group who mainly deal with UK based players. 

They also have the Ramsay brothers, Archer and Azaz on their books for a Villa link and one of their most high-profile players (aside from JJ) is Brennan Johnson, if anyone believes the links there. Also Wan-Bissaka, but I don't know if there is credible links or just fans wanting a defensive RB.

We are definitely in dialogue with this agency this summer, absolutely certain of that though. 

If we're looking for backup keepers to replace Olsen I wouldn't be surprised to see Vaclik.

He played under Emery and signed by Monchi so would know the setup and Emery's style of play, he should slot in easily.

A 34 year old backup isn't going to be demanding crazy wages either.

He's just spent the last 6 months playing for Huddersfield, 18 months ago he was a Europa League regular so I dunno what happened or why he moved to Olympiakos and then Hudds but seems a good option to me?

other free transfer goalkeepers I like the look of are Handanovic and Timo Horn but both are old and been with their last clubs for a long time, I dunno if they'd consider a switch to a different club and country at this stage. Vaclik has just moved to England which is why I feel like that's likely to happen. 

17 hours ago, Villarocker said:

With all these links to the likes of Torres, Chiesa, Diaby and Kessie etc does anyone else get the feeling that Unai thinks he can build a team to win this league? 

I think he goes into every single game with a game plan and a way he believes will mean we will win. That mentality won't win you every single game but with the squad we're building we'll win more than we lose and we'll have a good shot of getting far in any of the cups we're in. 

I can't see Unai's target being different to what it was day one "I want to win a trophy with Aston Villa" that was his mission statement. 

I don't think "I managed to finish 5th" or "I missed champions league qualification" is how Unai would reflect on Arsenal for example. I think he'd reflect on his time as "I lost a final"

For me this guy is all about winning. So if winning the league is impossible why focus on that? Get yourself a trophy in the cups and use the league as a way to qualify for more cup competitions the following season to do it all again. 

Outrageous if we pull this off. 

Digne for Johnson swap too? Hi Champions league, been a while, we're looking to do another update on our badge and two stars would look lovely. 

Never a bad thing to have a beanpole in your team either. 

The persistent links to Felix could be a smokescreen from the club too to show AC Milan "don't keep messing us about on the price, we've got other options"

I thought he looked amazing when linked heavily with Leeds. He was close to going at the same time they were after Gakpo, real sliding doors moment for them. 

I think he'd be great for us as long as we play to his strengths. Throw him in on the opening weekend and / or play him in the Watkins role and he'll be toast. 

3 hours ago, mikeyp102 said:

Was it that he was unprepared or was it a poor defence in front of him? He seems to be very highly rated by the club. 

They conceded 69 goals in the other 42 games they played, it does look like they were pretty shocking most the time he was there though, in the relegation spots the entire time and only kept 3 clean sheets in 25 league games. 3 of the 4 teams he played were in the top 10 at the time he played them as well:

Accrington (7th) 4-4

Ipswich (1st) 1-0 loss

Oxford (17th) 2-1 loss

Charlton (9th) 3-3

Looks like they turned it round after he left. Not sure based on what I can find if he was recalled as we wanted more playing time, or if they sent him back because they didn't want him. 

Hasselbaink left start of September and Sinisalo played 3 of his 4 games under him in that first month so maybe that shows the new manager just preferred a different player in the squad. 

He only played 4 games in league one last season and conceded 10 goals before being sent back to us, so I really hope he's more prepared to step up now to that level 

Rodrigo for £3mil would be a steal. If we got anyone from Leeds though I'd want it to be Gnonto, that kid is going places and the perfect winger / striker hybrid we're after. Just not sure if he'd be ready to step up to playing all the time. 

If the sponsor didn't have yellow in the design I think the kit would be generally more liked. 

Need a good 2nd or 3rd kit - I'm kinda praying we have a blackout kit this season in the Europa Conf. All black kit with that badge, I'd pay good money if I had any. 

On 04/07/2023 at 08:47, John said:

Having read his book, he regrets leaving us when he did on a matter of principle, but it was Randy selling Milner (when he had agreed that he would not) and taking Ireland as part of the deal (when Martin had said that he wasn't worth anywhere near the money they were asking) behind his back, that led him to decide he couldn't work for Randy any longer. 

Think his explanation is both likely true and also completely understandable. If you're in a senior role and you're public facing, and someone higher up whos private and hidden keeps making poor decisions on your behalf, is there any point continuing in the role?

I've had similar experiences and hated it. Soon as another job comes along you jump ship I think. In MONs case he had a few quid in the bank to fall back on and could afford a few days out of work. 

I'll be checking social medias about 1 or 2 for the annoucement. 

10 hours ago, MrBlack said:

His attitude is not in doubt.

His aptitude probably isn't either.

His ability to not get injured is the real question.

I don't think even Emery can magic him better from injury,  but if Coutinho's body stays working, Emery will definitely get the magic out of him. 

Really need our fitness team to pull off a miracle getting his body to work again 

22 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

 

Absolutely outrageous if we get close to signing him. 

I don't think Emery has a pecking order that works like that. Different players suit different formations and approaches to matches and different opposition. I'm sure everyone hear when the transfer window closes will have a role to play, everyone that leaves will just be one less option. Hopefully people we bring in give us more options and perform to a more consistent standard when called upon. 

Good move for him and wish him well. Be interesting at Spurs next season but Ange seems a good bloke too so hope they're all given time if the results are poor, which I suspect they might be to begin with. 

Chiesa yes please 

16 hours ago, skarroki said:

I have the artistic talent of a 3 year old with a blindfold on but I've given it a go of the design I'd like, if anyone with more ability would like to take the "proper" gas lamp outline idea along with the more classic rampant lion and the star at the top of the badge, plus the Aston Villa FC all being on the badge along with 1874, I'd appreciate it.

2 hours ago, Keyblade said:

@Teale's 'tache

I also like this gas lamp concept

2 hours ago, thabucks said:

Geez some of you need to go out and chill and enjoy the sun or get laid or something … the OTT reactionary bollox being spouted is borderline psychotic and lacks any sense of perspective and shows that some of y’all should maybe just get a life outside of Villa and VT … All in my opinion but some of the responses from grown up men/ ladies / non-binary is so childlike and not based on any logic other than faux outrage and bandwagon behaviour … The new round badge is pretty shit and shows why fans shouldn’t have a say in crucial design and aesthetic decisions. Most don’t seem to know out ass from our elbows when it comes down to these types of things…. Go have a Tommy tank or connect with nature and then ask yourself why do I care so much and then maybe y’all see what I see which is kinda a none issue imo. Just my take on it which is as valid as your desires to deride the club and froth at the mouth over a bloody badge… All in my humble opinion  

I think if you were trying to balance the scales you've gone a little too heavy 

16 hours ago, Leeroy said:

Between us and West Ham would be close probably, but surely he'd choose Villa. Better manager, bigger club, brighter future I'd say, finished 7 places and over 20 points higher last season despite having Slippy for a third of the season. West Ham are also losing their captain and best player which will be a massive loss and they won't be buying anyone as good to replace him. In Torres' case in particular he'd be working with a manager he's worked with before too and he's probably not aware of who Moyes even is, plus they're more of a physical counter attacking team which wouldn't work for Torres whose style suits a team that plays possession football. 

 

Having said that, West Ham did win the Conference league, are in London which players seem to favour these days although West ham/Stratford area is a shithole and probably worse than a lot of areas in Birmingham. They have a few very good players too and clearly have managed to attract star players in the past like Pacqueta.

 

If Torres doesn't get a move to City or Bayern I think we'd be favourites to land him. He's really good so I hope we get him.

This is the only thing that's relevant to the debate other than money I would say. If you're coming from Spain to play in the Prem you want to be a starter and well paid, other than that anything goes I'd imagine? I'd say champions league a huge lure but again those teams also pay more too. 

5 minutes ago, jim said:

FFS come in this thread of an update and all I see is tyre puns. I wish they would hurry up with the announcement, I was up all night and i've got terrible black circles and need some sleep.

Black circles from being tyred?

2 minutes ago, AvonVillain said:

Thanks, still haven't got a clue what the actual issue was though.

In June 2021 Norwich City agreed a deal with BK8 only for the deal to be terminated shortly after due to the company’s sexual exploitation of women. - by doing what?? Forgive me for requiring evidence.

"Young women in revealing clothing were a consistent theme of the company’s marketing. Norwich persuaded BK8 to delete content from their Instagram channel, only for fans to uncover BK8’s services to their Malaysian customers which included, among similar offerings, “sexy Baccarat” and videos of suggestive hot dog-swallowing contests."

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/10/norwich-axe-bk8-sponsorship-deal-over-sexualised-marketing