kingrollo

Ashley Young - not in the Watford team today - on the bench - looks like another one we missed. - Still lets wait until August eh ? - then we will be able to stroll in, pick who want, and they will all be a lot cheaper then......waiting has always worked well for Aston Villa (

Seem to remember last weeked - people were saying 'the window isn't even open yet' - this week they are saying 'the window has only been open 5 days' - whats the betting that come jan 31 ....its 'we always knew the main activity would be in the summer' ..................

Tro wrote:-

The most effective indicator of all to show fans and players alike that the club means business ....is an active player acquisition policy. It sends positive messages all over the place and is the quickest route to rebuilding the brand image of the club.

Despite my stance that we need new players now..... if the right ones are not available then i think Martin should "keep his powder dry" until the Summer

I agree about an active transfer market policy - it cuts the the talk - and no one can doubt you mean business.

With regards to availability of players - I think Charlton have made it clear Bent is available ......but Aston Villa don't appear to be interested ......this concerns me.

I don't ever remember the previous regime ever committing to a figure. They said things like 1.'were keeping our powder dry for the summer' - 2.'we won't be held to ransom by inflated fees' - Watch for excuse 2 to be trotted out very soon.

It seems were going to get Bardsley - and some cheapos - fair enough - but don't gasp in amazement when Newcastle play in front of 40,000 - whilst we struggle to get 30,000

Bent is available - other than lack of funds - they can be no good reason not to go for him (but I ain't holding my breath)

Well you must be the eternal optimist....

Were are not looking like getting bent

nor do we seem in the running for ashley young

logically - this would lead me to beleive that we won't get SWP either.

Different faces in Randy and MON - but this looks like a typical Aston Villa transfer window.

is Bent getting the service at Charlton ?

Would Defoe have missed the chance Gabby had at Charlton ?

Don't overcomplicate it - if your not scoring goals - its generally the strikers - if your conceeding goals its generally the defence. - Not 100% - but most of the time.

I can't getting the feeling that we are more keen on players we know we can't get - Keane, Defoe, - but aren't that keen on available players such as Bent......

I wonder why ?

a big signing at villa is always under pressure - because there is usually only one of them. This won't happen, but if we signed, Bent, Young, Nugent, - all for big fees - as long as one of them came good - the pressure on other two would be reduced.

Historically we sign one big name at time - historically this hasn't worked.

Well I suggested Harewood a couple of days back. Based on what MON has said experience of the premeirship - reasonable pace I think. I don't think he is a great player , I don't think he will get us many goals .....but I think MON wants a big man to lead the line ......and won't be worried if he doesn't score 20 goals. I think he is looking for a partnership whereby the nippy bloke is the poacher and the big bloke is the creator. I can see harewood in a brian deane role for us.

I support this an interim signing - then harewood would become a squad player (unless he surprises me and scores loads of goals) I don't know the fee mentioned , up to £3m would seem reasonable - and perhaps better value than crouch at £12m....

My reservations are:-

is he a londoner - if so - they rarley settle in the midlands

I hope we aren't signing him - because we can't afford anyone else ! (my worst fear)

What about Ben Foster from Watford ?

Other players which are gettable - Andy Cole, Marlon Harewood,

Bellamy wasn't even on the bench for liverpool. Beattie however starts for everton......

Yes Tro - the rebuilding does have to start - but I am fast loosing hope. I fear that once again the promised millions will fail to materalise. The latest rumour is that we are about to take Alan Smith on loan. not a bad move in itself - but we are loosing matches , taking players on loan, and talking about 'sorting it out' at the end of the season. If my memory serves me correct - that is what was being said last year................has anything really changed ?

2-0 to charlton today - based on the fact that they scored 2 goals the another night........and we rarley look like scoring

Its early days for most of them.......but only Davis stands out for me.

Good centre forwards or good players are rarley available. Rooney wasn't available when Manu brought him - and how many times we were told he was going no where.

If we are waiting for a striker to have a for sale tag round his neck - we will be dissapointed. a good manager has good connections , who can move players that are supposedly not for sale. You are not sold players you go get them - Aston Villa don't seem to have ever grasped this. A manager who can't get us quality players - is failing in a key area of his job. This isn't a dig at the current villa manager - but I would like to see us a bit more agrressive in the transfer market - we always seem to be last to make the moves....and then end up with players no one else wants. This in my opinion has been our downfall over the last 10 years ....lets hope by mid jan we can put this right.

I am looking forward to the transfer window .....but lets hope we do better than Petrov .....if he's an £8m player, - well I kinda hope no more arrive .....

There can be no more excuses ....a good manager will get you good players....I know it won't be easy ......but thats why managers are paid so much !

Right down the Middle for me

Goalkeeper

Sorenson - reasonable enough keeper and well worth the 2m paid. But is he actually world class ? - if we can't get murray from wolves - then I wouldn't be surprised at a big name signing from abroad

Centre Back

Laursen - I have given up on - you would be foolish to rely on him for a whole season.

Ridgewell , Looks only to be a squad player - Cahil - seems to need a little more time - Delaney quality - but injury prone. That only leaves Mellberg !

Centre Forward

Bellamy, from what I hear is number 1 target - his recent form form liverpool may mean they are reluctant to sell though. Can't see us getting defoe , if MON is after a small nippy player - Bent from charlton would seem more gettable.

Yep I agree - if o neils claims that he is going to plunder the lower leagues are taken at face value - then has the revolution really happened ?

After years of being a villa fan, I am sceptical - but for me - Villa have to land a top player in Jan - there can be no excuses - where there is a will - there is a way......

(other clubs will sign big names in Jan) ......

I can stomach much more 'maybe next season'