nepal_villan

We have a really good team. Whatever the gaps are - get the players in! This team has a chance to be special.

1 hour ago, mikeyp102 said:

It’s not about being forced, but it clears a high earner off the books, who isn’t necessarily first choice 

But, once you're a top 5/6 club you'll always have a few high earners on the bench, no?  

Digne is a solid player. You keep him unless you have a better player (someone who might suite Emery's style better) lined up.  

33 minutes ago, KMitch said:

Dan Bardell  has Gregg Evans on today's 1874 Podcast again today...  Gregg admitted that he never watches Villa's friendlies.  Imagine having a job where you follow one club and write about it a couple of times a month, and you aren't even bothered to watch matches that the team is playing.  So glad this waster is fooking off to phone it in for Liverpool now. 

Came on here to write the very same thing. Freaking embarrassing. Don't understand why Bardell is so attached to this fraud.  

Dream would be to swap out Bailey and Coutinho for a top class attacking player.  Then get a RB and backup GK (despite Emery's comments) and we would have a dynamite squad.

Has to be in the squad

1 minute ago, smokingzen said:

To be fair I think Emery has eyes too... plus he has the bonus of them being attached to an intelligent footballing brain.

So Emery will never get anything wrong? 

It’s not if Olsen was world class and his form recently dipped.  He struggled at Roma and Sheffield United. He’s making a living off the fact he is the Sweden #1 - something Emery alluded to in the press conference. 

Just now, DJBOB said:

Lots of winger links but curious that not a lot of right back links right now considering we only have one natural right back!

Also no backup GK links.  Been tracking the goalkeeper for Botafogo - Lucas Perri.  Top notch every time I see him play. Had a short stint at Crystal Palace.

4 minutes ago, sne said:

He's so perfect for the way we wan't to play. pre season friendly today but he's just a class (or 5) above everyone else on the pitch. Nice that he was made captain too.

looked absolute class. I know it's preseason against a 4th division side, but he was levels above anyone else on the pitch.

4 hours ago, Zatman said:

I wasnt. We were signing a Barcelona and Everton reserve as Rafa saw right through Digne

We need scouts like you.

2 hours ago, Tomaszk said:

It blows my mind people thinking Purslow wasn't booted for this whole mess.

Gerrard, Coutinho, Digne. That's it. You can't waste that amount of money and keep your job.

Very few were complaining when we signed the two players.  Actually, most fans were quite giddy.

Crazy that a Premier League side claims it cant afford Nakamba’s wages.  What cheaper option do Luton plan on signing? 
 

Was watching a Vasco Da Gama game. Like how they have the famous cross on their jerseys but a different logo they use for their branding.  Maybe we can do similar. Lion on the shirt but something more unique and cutting edge elsewhere.  

Just saw that Patrick Vieira is the new coach at Strasbourg and was reminded that they are now owned by Chelsea.  Presume they would have the budget to bring in someone like Sanson.  

Perplexes me how a professional footballer can be without a decent weak foot.  

Frustrates me how we were blackmailed for Mings, yet we can't seem to do the same to others. Even Newcastle "only" paid 13M for Target - less than what we paid Southampton!  

1 minute ago, mrchnry said:

It's brexit all over again

Crest-xit! 

Guessing it’s a Heck decision. Only other theory is maybe they got a trademark complaint from Chelsea or something and agreed to change it next season.  
 

I welcome the news as I always wanted something more bold.  

Coutinho has a big time agent too and he would be perfect for Saudi Arabia.  If he stays, I'd have to think the Emery wants him around.

We extended his contract when we were in a dark place under Gerrard. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a reasonable buyout clause in his contract.  

21 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

We’ll move Donk on.

Probably better chance of staying now given his experience with Tielemans 

2 hours ago, Delphinho123 said:

Yep.

Tielemans is a funny one. If we’d been linked 12 months ago, I’d have been delighted. Now it just seems a bit meh. He’s had a stinker of a season by all accounts. 

Could have said the same about half-a-dozen of our players during Gerrard's time

41 minutes ago, JW7494 said:

I have spent the last few days thinking about how i’d like the summer window to go. I’ve tried to be realistic with targets & fees.

I think the main positions & players we should be looking to improve on if we are to compete in the league, Europe & both domestic cups are:

 

A back up / cup goalkeeper:

I would go for Steffen from City. He’s available for around £10m and has experience and the ability to play out from the back having done so with City & Middlesbrough. We could offer him enough football with the 3 cup competitions to keep him happy.

 

A defensive right back:

Wan-Bissaka would be perfect for how Emery wants his right back to play. He’s probably the best 1 on 1 fullback in the league. Not great going forward but comfortable on the ball & solid defensively.

 

Left footed centre back:

A player we keep getting linked with, Pau Torres, would be brilliant. Has played under Emery before so wouldn’t take long to settle in. Would rotate with Mings & could push him to the next level. 

 

2x defensive midfielders:

I don’t think there are many players out there that I would replace Kamara & Luiz with in the middle. So they would have to be rotation players. I like Tyler Adams from Leeds. He would be decent back up to Kamara in the more defensive role, is comfortable at receiving the ball & is good defensively. 

The second for me would be Guendouzi. He’s obviously been heavily linked with us in January. I think he would do well in the Luiz box to box role. Again he is both good on the ball & good defensively.

 

A right midfielder:

Strong rumours of Asensio from Madrid. Would be the marquee name to kick off the European push.  Very talented player, hasn’t developed as he should have at Madrid but that’s more down to the big name competition he’s been up against. On a free too so would be a no brainer if he wanted to join.

 

The hybrid winger/striker:

Nico Williams would add pace and skill to the front line. He would create space for the other attacking players to cause havoc. Massive potential to develop into a world class player. 

 

That leaves us with…

 

Martinez

Steffen (£10m)

 

Cash

Wan Bissaka (£25m)

 

Konsa

Carlos

 

Mings

Pau Torres (£35m)

 

Moreno

Digne

 

Kamara

Adams (£20m)

 

Luiz

Guendouzi (£20m)

 

Asensio (Free)

Mcginn

 

Ramsey

Buendia

 

Williams (£40m)

Bailey

 

Watkins

Archer

 

 

OUT:

Olsen (Free)

Chambers (£5m)

Hause (Free)

Dendonker (£10m)

Sanson (£5m)

Traore (£5m)

Wesley (Free)

Philogene (£5m)

Coutinho (£7.5m)

Nakamba (£8m)

 

Loan Out:

Duran

Iroegbunam

A. Ramsey

I'd keep Dendonker, Chambers and Young as back-up and emergency options as they are all versatile to play multiple positions.  Don't think we need two more CDM's. One is enough with Dendonker, McGinn and Timmy all able to play that position at a good level.