Adam2003

Don’t be so negative. I want us twice as good. I expect 14 past Liverpool for a start.

I don’t need him to be a playmaker but for us to be where we want to be *when on the front foot* we need someone who doesn’t slow the whole move down every time they get the ball. I love having him in the team when we are playing a top team but against most he’s just not comfortable enough on the ball. It’s like Neil Taylor - good at his primary job but ultimate if you want to play good football and attack teams you need your ‘destroyer’ to be able to get the ball, give the ball, get the ball, give the ball without needing multiple touches every time or having to turn in a full circle because the only pass he can play is with the inside of his dominant foot. Kante would be nice but I mean even someone like Gavin McCann could do the above more effectively than Nakamba. Again though he’s a valuable member of the squad and in games where we need a spoiler he’s absolutely excellent - as shown by the record with him in the team. Im very happy with where our midfield is though so the good news is we only need to sign quality. In fact there’s only two or three positions in the squad where we just need a PL level body - that’s a massive turnaround and people like Marv have played a big role in it.

No-one is walking around Arsenal dressed as a turkey… well, except Arteta maybe…

I know things like £150m get touted but let’s face it at £120m you are at 25% more than any other transfer fee in history (except Neymar’s fake deal) and I’d say anyone would be selling any player.

I broadly agree but let’s face it sometimes you do get better that way, especially with young players. Leicester do it repeatedly. They sit on the bench for a year, they develop, then they win a place in the team. Also something we want our own kids to do of course. They also don’t just sit on the bench - I don’t think Patrick Bamford would displace Watkins for example but if Patrick Bamford was sitting on our bench we would be significantly better equipped to win games where Ollie is struggling and we need to change things than looking at whether Davis or Wesley is the right option (even though I haven’t written off either personally).

Great YouTube vids to be fair.

I have watched a LOT of Emi Buendia the last few days and his movement is so ridiculous it’s almost stretching it to say he plays on the right - in the same way as you say that Jack plays everywhere. It’s going to be absolute madness. Total football. I can’t wait. Don’t even give them a formation, just send them out.

Actually can’t think of a transfer I have been more excited about since Ashley Young.

Seems to hit the ball a lot harder now than he did a couple of years ago. Like to see that development. Speaks well of work put in in the gym.

I would think Grealish left, Buendia central, Traore right in a 4-2-3-1, or Grealish left and Buendia right in a 4-3-3 as the most regular options. But so much flexibility in there now.

He’s one of those players who has won us games on his own. Integral to us staying up, got us to a cup final. Did not cost much. So I think he’ll always be a bit of a cult hero. All that said if he doesn’t play another game for us because we have increased the quality in the attacking third I’ll be delighted - and hope he gets a move somewhere good once he’s back from his injury.

McGinn also missed half a season with injury remember. On that subject I can’t recall DL ever missing a game with a niggle which is always a handy attribute.

Tinpot club.

He also writes our match report for the Guardian for pretty much every single game at Villa Park (though as I have said elsewhere, doesn’t often write about transfers).

Yeah fair play and apologies to have assumed that if you do - I was going off you saying he wasn’t worth £40m and wouldn’t suit our system but you didn’t say he was a bad player

Especially given that Targett left Southampton because Bertrand was keeping him out the team… doubt he will fancy the reversal in fortunes.

Percy is never early on a story - that’s how you know when he posts it’s golden. But you might well be right. My point is just Doyle doesn’t have a record or reason to make stuff up. My guess is we are interested. My guess is also we won’t pay what they want. So I would think you will turn out to be correct that we don’t sign him, and as you don’t rate him then I’m sure you’ll be delighted!

Just looked and it looks like Mings 69 of 76 to DL 68 of 76 in the Prem. So you are right. I guess the claim above is because it’s 75-73 to DL over the last two seasons if you factor in the cups.

Wait hang on - have I read this right - you’re suggesting some non-Villa fans would buy a Villa shirt with Grealish on because they support England but don’t want an England shirt? As if I, say, bought a Rashford Man United shirt to show my support? That would be a pretty small pool I’d say. That said… I might just be showing my age. Kids these days are definitely fans of players not teams. And I can imagine myself getting a Dortmund shirt with Sancho I suppose. But can’t imagine doing that with another English team. You’ve got me questioning my logic though

That’d be ironic…!

Let’s get Max Aarons to cover both full backs and save on the movers for Buendia.

If Buendia is done (I think it is) and JWP coming in (I’m a long way from convinced on that one) then I’d be happy with a young left back and a veteran goalkeeper. Anything else would be a bonus. If JWP not coming in I think we still need another option either in the middle or wide (either works because Buendia and Grealish can do either and we can play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1). Edit: that is because I personally think Wesley can be our backup striker which I know many disagree with - if Smith doesn’t think so then I guess we also need an option up front.

Didn’t realise he had played more games than anyone else over the last two years. Impressive.

Sorry I was just answering you not being sarky - my ‘ha’ was just for the situation if that came over wrong! It sounds like we will put a bid in (if you believe Paul Doyle in the Guardian) but no guarantee it will be accepted or we will get close to Southampton’s valuation

Ha not even close for my money. I’m a fan of the player, and I believe there is a chance we are interested, but I don’t think we have even put a bid in yet (the story itself just says we are preparing to do so).