Mazrim

If we got NRC and Sneijder that would be it for the CM positions with Sneijder also offering LM. Barry, Petrov and Gardner would more than make up the rest with Osbourne on loan with recall options if we get horrendous injury problems. I can also see only one big name striker coming in and perhaps a top winger. Nugent would hinder Moore, who is a better player. A top right back is a must and now a decent keeper too. I still think we'll get Gordon. GK RB DC (cover) LW or RW CM AMC CF Those are priorities as I see it. Anything else is just gravy.

Dont forget, some players will come up from the Youth and reserves. Not that we should depend on them but players like Steiber and Lund could do a short term job if called upon. That will flesh out the numbers a little. Anyway, we'll get some players in soon. There are no fools at the helm of this ship.

There is no way MON is after Harewood. For christs sake.

Yes, how can we dream of signing a teenager from Man City. Absolutely outrageous. Even if we were to bid 15m Man Utd or Chelsea would bid 45m. I'm glad there are sensible people here.

Yeah but it will come with a compulsory smiley.

Their first priority is safety though.

They'd balk at the price though.

Give it a rest.

I'd rather read wild rumours than the same post 5,000 times, personally.

Smith is a Taint. Taint a striker. Taint a midfielder. Or, if you like, a "Jack of no trades". No ta.

Not anymore, now they've moved to Holland. A very unreliable treacherous sauce. How imminent? I dont know, but the only thing holding things up is holidays. Unlike the Ashley Young and Maloney transfers, I dont have actual direct contacts with this one but its not from some div who likes to blag so we'll see.

There is a credible rumour doing the rounds that there are three foreign signings due imminently. Its a word of mouth through trusted folks at BH rumour. Not something I can copy and paste. I have no names and would be guessing. So there you go.

I don't think theres a shortage in Amsterdam either :oops: Touche.

The PL itself is the greatest show on earth. Well, according to TV ratings anyway. Therefore more exposure and more sponsorship money. Being Dutch he wont have to adjust to a new culture or language as he already speaks english and the climate is very similar. He's still very close to home and so on. There are plenty of pro's.

If we had Mertesacker and Laursen at the back the ball would never touch the floor in our area. It would reduce the amount of daft goals we concede from set pieces too and I know that does MONs head in more thn anything else.

Out: Davis, McCann and Osbourne on loan. In: NRC and Sneijder. Young, Berger, Maloney, NRC, Petrov, Sneijder, Barry and Gardner fight over 4 and sometimes 5 places. In fact, there is still room for another winger there too. 38 league games. Possibly 20 odd cup games. They will all play and with bad luck even be stretched to cope. Players like to be rested now and then. Its not an insult. It prolongs their careers.

SSN = The Bible. No, honestly.

Nobody is claiming any such thing Sam. Debunking shit newspaper talk that is usually weighted against unfashionable Villa isnt the same thing. And Young took advice from Boothroyd, its true but his mind was made up for several reasons. 1- He REALLY liked what Villa said to him 2- He already had friends at the club from the U21's.

Spurs did. Trust me.

Name one player of note we have been beaten to recently? And I dont mean crap that some rag has spewed out but actual facts. The transfer I told you about, Ashley Young, for instance. Spurs and West Ham as well as a few others were interested and we won. Why? Take your pick of reasons. West Ham offered more money and Spurs offered European football but he still chose Villa. There's your precedent. Will all players choose us? No. No club could expect that. Not even Man Utd. So what? Also, I'm not aware of any player choosing the number of fans in the stadium as any incentive to join a club. Thats ridiculous. They do whats best for their careers and families and thats it.

You lot make me laugh at times. Some cack article comes out belittling Villa again who couldnt possibly compete with Newcastle and West Ham and you swallow it up with relish. We will get our targets or as near as damn it and ONLY those in the know know who they are. West Ham have so far signed NOBODY despite being linked to every single player going. Reports say they've got Parker well so what? They spunked money away in January because they were desperate and they are still desperate. Newcastle have a shambles of a squad to sort out. Whose position do you want to be in? No doubt in my mind.

I think its pointless arguing over the definition of 'Star' or 'Quality' players. The General could well have meant 'Star' or even 'World Class' players for all we know. You'd have to know The Generals definition of quality. The best way to judge will be to see who we have after the window closes. For what its worth, if we are after Koumas (and I'm not 100% convinced we are) he would be a squad player to make numbers and compete like everybody else. I wouldnt rate him as good as Barry, Petrov or Gardner but a useful player to have, certainly. Never a PL centre mid though. As part of a three man central trio or a wide player maybe. I really dont think we'll be trumped too often for our main targets and I trust MON to have already chosen our targets a good while ago and that they will be excellent targets. He'll want to have time with his team complete for pre season after last seasons impromptu baptism.

Koumas better than Gardner? I think not. You keep trying to prepare us for disappointment Jez but the truth is you know no more than anybody else and its not your job to prepare fans for anything, thanks. We'll cope, honestly.

Ridgewell I would still like to see stay but is far from the finished product, Davis has always had limitations and Luke is still a very hot prospect. Also, all three are still Villa players.

I think he'll sign a new contract and continue to develop into a quality player with the opportunities typical of any rising star in a very good Premier League team.