jasthevillan

We need a fast strong and good tackler as left back

Not one with silky skills and free kicks

Too good for us fella, will take a couple of years for us to get such hot properties. Yeah you're right though why have someone with talent to put a good ball in and silky skills when you can have a lump. Currently Barry is our best left back although Bouma is getting close to where he should be but neither could be said to be fast and both have international caps, as does Bale, positioning is more important than pace in my opinion just look at Paul McGrath

These days you pay for potential, the boy has it. The scouts of Man U, Arsenal and Spurs all feel he is worth in the region of £10m and if you look at how they nurture talent I'm with them.

BennettVilla wrote:

how do we know bale is any good

has anybody actually seen him play

is this just another overated lb like ashley cole?

Exactly how over-rated is Ashley Cole? He may be a clearing in the woods but he is a top draw footballer, especially when he played for Wenger. I can't think of a better left back

still overated imo

but bale definitely is

How do you know Bale is over-rated? Have you seen him play? I have and he is good, Wales youngest international and youngest goalscorer too and it weren't a fluke or tap in. Younger when he played for Wales than Giggs, Speed, Southall, John Charles.

how do we know bale is any good

has anybody actually seen him play

is this just another overated lb like ashley cole?

Exactly how over-rated is Ashley Cole? He may be a clearing in the woods but he is a top draw footballer, especially when he played for Wenger. I can't think of a better left back

and no one remembers Crespo???!!!!

Yep the guy who scored more goals per game than any other Chelsea striker despite never getting a run of games. I think he can be counted as a success as he clearly was more than capable of scoring when given the chance.

Spot on Crespo was quality in comparison to the other strikers but the press hounded him out IMO. I see something similar happening to Shevchenko at the moment, some people just expect because of his reputation he will just fall on his feet and be quality.

I think we should go for Giles Barnes, my brother in law follows the sheep and he has had a major role in their movement up the league, a biger impact than Huddlestone had there apparently.

Also, I see that Franz Beckenbeaur has stated that England is the ONLY choie for the 2018 World Cup. VIlla Park it seems will be a busy place for national teams!

Actually. i know that this and the olympics is a long way off. But. if we was to host these events would it be possible to get Season ticket holders first refusal on tickets?

Absolutely no chance! If every club did that there would be about 8 tickets left for the rest of the World after the touts had got their hands on them and they would probably be for North Korea v Togo.

England would have got the 2006 World Cup if we hadnt made an agreement for them to get that if they allowed us Euro 96, worst kept secret ever, not sure if the FA can do anything without cocking it up.

As far as I know we don't get any funding for the ground because of the Olympics, remember that it is only a under 23 tournament. Not much to get excited about really.

Matty Taylor would be nice, also spell the end for Bouma as a first teamer, i think.

MON up until 4 weeks ago im sure would have been looking at a replacement but Bouma's current form may have made it less of a priority.

Centre Midfield is now a priority imo. I believe 4-3-3 is back on the cards too. Hence MON liking of our young CM's and the releasing of Whits and Hendrie.

Taylor is a non starter since his 5 goals in 4 games to be honest, he just wouldn't represent value for money.

If anything you could argue that Chelsea look like the old Villa.

Manager not getting dough from the chairman etc. after being promised it previously. I wonder if Roman can make a chicken sandwich?

Seriously I've alays rated Reo-Coker since he was made captain of the Dons at such a young age. Said to me then what leadership skills he possessed back then, and I've sort of kept an eye on his development since. He would be a very good signing indeed.

Yeah, I wanted him then too and he went to West Ham for £200000 and we signed people like DJX2 who did nothing.

Yes I think a central midfielder is likely with Berger and Baros not being here forever. I would be happy with Sidwell or even Papa Bouba Diop who may be off to Wigan...who?!

General Krulak here:

Waiting for a signature on a piece of paper is always tough...but so far there are no impediments...just takes time.

MON and Randy continue to work well together...and Fitz and Bob Kain are doing some very good work too. Lots going on and everyone is fully focused. We just need to remember that our goal is a very ambitious one and it will take time...it is not an "overnight" thing. At the same time, NO ONE wants to relax!! We have a "must win" game coming up with more must wins in the following weeks. We need to get back up the table.

Well done General! Glad that the Holte Upper gets to Pilot the new tickets system as well because whatever people say that is where the heart of Aston Villa really is! You wouldn't want to go to war without us!

Sidwell is a quality player, tell Hendrie to bike it and sign him!

Even I'm getting frustrated now, we keep getting linked with Young and we all know he is off to Spurs at a vastly inflated price! Lets hope that transfer will start a chain of events that gets us Robbie Keane. Defoe appears to have evaded us this time.

General Krulak here:

I wrote that comment because there are other threads on other sites that mention the "R" word and I want everyone to know that is nothing but bull shit and I stopped swearing when I left the Forces!!!!!! We have a great Manager, a superb, supportive, Owner, a solid team that is ONLY going to get BETTER, and a Fan base that is second to none and knows when we have a good thing going.

Thats what I like General! A bit of passion! Please feel free to issue Milan Baros with a bollocking before the Watford game.

we should use beckhams move to the USA to our advanatge in trying to break the american market

we could maybe start by trying to get a friendly with his new club next summer :winkold:

Thats a great shout and there will be plenty of Villa in California at that time of year!

So Rocafella you would be happy if a big signing came on Monday? A crazy statement that, a bit like what Egghead at West Ham says.

Got my bonus today general so time for a holiday question!

Went to Ontario, Canada and Ney York to meet family last year and really enjoyed seeing the sights!

Bearing in mind that I have a lot of family in Union City, San Francisco; should I make arrangements to go out there and chill on the set of Baywatch on Venice Beach or should I eagerly await out summer fixtures? Will we have a game in CA or NY? A game in the skydome, TO would be good but my nephews are coming to Brum in feb so I have to move quick to get them in the programme for when they come to VP with me!

Enjoy your conference, rather you than me! Best defence is a flat back four!

Why don't you just put on the Clubcall and teamtalk links as well.

I know circumstances dictate, and the takeover was only days old - but if there had been a bit more urgency - perhaps James Milner would be a villa player today.

I just get the feeling, that we aren't making bids here and there - and think we are waiting and see - I wish I could sense more urgency

I get the feeling... I wish... if only... if only my aunty had bollocks she would be my uncle!

Be patient, just because we aren't shouting anything from the rooftops doesn't mean we aren't doing anything.

Mourinho may be leaving Chelsea according to the papers, maybe come in as Assistant to the Messiah? LOL!

We are only there for around 60 hrs a year lets concentrate on transport, the stadium and results on the pitch.

Been busy General, long time no speak. The conference must be to put it politely boring the crap out of you!

i know clubs are not keen to sell now, hence paying the inflated price for the services.

im sure the prices will be even more come summer time when there is a dutch auction for players, especially when there will be most of the premiership with money burning a hole in their pockets. at the moment, there are not many teams who are in a postion to buy, in the range we are looking to buy.

- But if the prices suddenley go through the roof in the summer - and I think they will - we have the perfect excuse not to buy anyone -

We have been assured that top strikers wouldn't be available in Jan - unexpectedly Bent has become available .....Its a goldeon opportunity to pounce - I don't think a young england international striker will be available in the summer.....but alas Bent now looks destined for Spurs, we couldn't bid as we were preparing for an FA cup game......Spurs weren't in the FA cup you see

No they won't because teams have more time to line up replacements. Maybe O'Neill has a deal with Jol that if they sell us Defoe we wont stand in their way for Bent or is that being too positive?

No, you may want to buy an Aston Martin but can't get the one you like for 6 months so instead of buying a car you don't like and getting the depreciation of it you borrow your mates Mercedes for 6 months because he isn't doing anything with it.

Agreed - but if Darren Bent is the Aston Martin - we know he is available.......The cover has been blown me thinks

Would you pay up to £15m for him? When you see that Kuyt went for £10m and someone like Huntelaar is available I would rather spend it on him. Rather have Nugent for £6m than sign Darren Bent for £12m

At those prices both Bent and Nugent are over priced.

"Nugent is NOT a £6m player, he's simply not ready, anyone getting him now is getting another Macken" - quote from a PNE ST holder last night to me at football training.

I don't think they will sell anyway because if they come up (they have a 60% chance of that if he stays) they will get £40m for being up for 1 season. You would have to be mad to sell and risk that payday unless you have someone better lined less! In which case why aren't we after them.

No, you may want to buy an Aston Martin but can't get the one you like for 6 months so instead of buying a car you don't like and getting the depreciation of it you borrow your mates Mercedes for 6 months because he isn't doing anything with it.

Agreed - but if Darren Bent is the Aston Martin - we know he is available.......The cover has been blown me thinks

Would you pay up to £15m for him? When you see that Kuyt went for £10m and someone like Huntelaar is available I would rather spend it on him. Rather have Nugent for £6m than sign Darren Bent for £12m

No, you may want to buy an Aston Martin but can't get the one you like for 6 months so instead of buying a car you don't like and getting the depreciation of it you borrow your mates Mercedes for 6 months because he isn't doing anything with it.