villabromsgrove

I think two or three big name signings- real prestige and intent signalling signings under MON would put us in the top 5 in 2 years.

Yes I do.

But would you rather have 5 £10M signings or 10 £5M signings?

After 288 pages of speculation about dozens of possible targets, shouldn't we reconsider Richard Fitzgeralds comment about "Top Class Signings."

What did he mean, and how would you define top class in terms of Champions league aspirations, which was the context in which the comment was made.

I wouldn't mind Yakubu either seeing as though he stated his desire to leave Boro this week!

He isn't good enough. Made his name in one decent season at Pompey and now is a rich nobody

...and he seems to be a arrogant little prat.

First Nzogbia is an "arrogant little prick", and now Yakubu is apparently a "arrogant little prat", how the feck do you know exactly? :roll: , i'd personally rather focus on what they do on the pitch instead of sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong.

As for Defoe, these rumours are getting very strong now, i'd be surprised if we didn't sign him tbh!!, and i'd also be surprised if Petrov got dropped from central midfield, if we biy quality midfielder i think Barry will move back to the left.

I wouldn't mind Yakubu either seeing as though he stated his desire to leave Boro this week!

The scenario where big JC gets injured is exactly why I want us to sign Viduka. An experienced and gifted striker who has proven this season that he's still got it!

lets get crouch back then...

(yes, this is a sarcastic post!)

BIG JON

If O'neill signs defoe its because he doesnt always intend to play the carew way. If we turn up at pompey say, we'd wanna play the quick mobile strikers against campbell and primus (remember the VP fixture last month) Defoe is nothing like Moore nor Gabby as people are suggesting, in fact the only thing they have in common is pace. Defoe is a very direct, clinical finisher who will literally shoot from anywhere and if we sign him we'll have a great mix in our striking four. Carew power, strength with good feet. Great at getting the ball down and laying it off. Gabby, pure pace, unpredictable almost unplayable for most defenders, Moore the more traditional striker, sufficient pace, great movement. Plus defoes as mentioned above. Different options no matter which two from 4. I find it unlikely that if Carew gets injured or dropped O'neill will want to simply plonk in a like for like (only not as good) striker and play exactly the same way. It would make us predictable. Carew for the games like Man U and spurs and arsenal, to bully ferdinand etc and pace and movement for the games like Pompey, everton etc where the defenders are less mobile.

Hypothetically what happens if Carew breaks a leg first week of september and our striker options are Defoe, Agbonlahor, Moore, Ashley Young and Maloney?

Then thats who we play. duh

If O'neill signs defoe its because he doesnt always intend to play the carew way. If we turn up at pompey say, we'd wanna play the quick mobile strikers against campbell and primus (remember the VP fixture last month) Defoe is nothing like Moore nor Gabby as people are suggesting, in fact the only thing they have in common is pace. Defoe is a very direct, clinical finisher who will literally shoot from anywhere and if we sign him we'll have a great mix in our striking four. Carew power, strength with good feet. Great at getting the ball down and laying it off. Gabby, pure pace, unpredictable almost unplayable for most defenders, Moore the more traditional striker, sufficient pace, great movement. Plus defoes as mentioned above. Different options no matter which two from 4. I find it unlikely that if Carew gets injured or dropped O'neill will want to simply plonk in a like for like (only not as good) striker and play exactly the same way. It would make us predictable. Carew for the games like Man U and spurs and arsenal, to bully ferdinand etc and pace and movement for the games like Pompey, everton etc where the defenders are less mobile.

the holding role

Most teams that play 4-4-2 don't have a designated holding player. I watched Gardner & Barry very closely in the last two games & both of them switched between defence & attack at will depending on where the other one was, much like the way Sidwell & Harper did for Reading. Gardner, Barry & Petrov have attacking & defensive qualities, unlike McCann & Davis who have either one or the other.

Somebody on the Ic Brum forum is claiming the Defoe deal is done, don't know if he's reliable in any way it it's probably BS. Just thought i'd post it here.

TBH it doesn't leave much room for petrov

I don't think he has been anywhere - ANYWHERE - near as bad as some people have made out.

But he has work to do if he is going to be up to standard next season; and although he went some way to doing that once partnered with Barry, if he is to be replaced, so be it. That said, it should just be more about a case of competition, and no-oneshould be 'replaced' in my vision of Villa, unless they are leaving the club.

What we need, IMO, is competition for places over the entire park, whether it be Petrov, Sorenson, Mellberg, Carew or even Captain Barry - no-one in the team should be in the comfort zone that too many of our payers have in recent years.

Just sign Jagielka. He solves both our right-back and sub-goalkeeping problems

So because Gardner has had a few good games (we finished 11th mind) and finished a volley like Lampard does, we shouldn't be buying a new central midfielder? Now see that's the mentality I am afraid of, it's dangerous to big up your talents and place too much responsibility on his shoulders.

As to your comment "we only finished 11th mind," was it a coincidence that we went on a run which topped the premiership form league and dispelled relegation worries with the return from injury of players like Laursen and Gardner?

The kid is decent no doubt but he's not gonna be anywhere near the likes of Lampard or Gerrard imo

He probably isn't, no. There was probably a bit of hyperbole on the part of the original poster in my opinion.

But then again, what was Gerrard doing for Liverpool at age 20, in his breakthrough season? If memory serves he played a couple of dozen games, scoring once.

Gardner seems to be following a similar career trajectory so far.

ml1dch, you're probably right about the hyperbole, but this guy is a quick learner with all the equipment to go all the way, imo long term injury is the only thing that could stop him.

Everyone keeps mentioning Bent, can you really see him at Villa Park next year when he will have the option of European football at Tottenham ,Liverpool,etc............ Not that were not a good prospect but it just aint gonna happen.

How bout that young lad Billy Elliot, he's got great feet. Don't know how he got on after his big move to the capital though....

Bent

Appiah

Luke Young

Lampard

Scott Parker

til we get something more concrete that's all I have to say on the speculation. Might log something on footballrumours and see if it gets picked up here.......

My one major disagreement is over your view of Craig Gardner, imo he is going to be the next big icon at VP. He has loads of technical ability and the heart and soul of an Ian Taylor (that was one of my "three in the morning" ramblings.)

Having seen 6 of his last 7 games live i agree totally with this. A real star in the making.

And I don't disagree at all. My thoughts about him is to learn his trade this season and really push for it the next season. Maybe not the right way to go, but those were my thoughts. I'd really come to like him too and he's shown more and more of being a new Sid for us. Guess I'm alone in thinking that, but still.

I think it was "out by easter" who coined the nickname "Crash Gardner" after one particular display which contained blood and guts tackling and attacking crunching headers at set pieces which I have only seen from the likes of Micah Richards. I was at that game and I can tell you that opposition players were obviously avoiding him before we had reached half time!

Lampard and Gerrard will be looking over the shoulders of their England shirts in a couple of years time.

Yes the headline in the Daily Mirror is "Bruce to gamble on Bramble"

Pelle, commiserations from another insomniac. The thoughts that ramble through my mind in the middle of the night tend to be unprintable, or if they are about Villa they don't make a lot of sense. Your thoughts however make reasonable sense and a good basis for discussion.

My one major disagreement is over your view of Craig Gardner, imo he is going to be the next big icon at VP. He has loads of technical ability and the heart and soul of an Ian Taylor (that was one of my "three in the morning" ramblings.)

I love that site. I mean...

Aston Villa makin a shock move for dejan stankovic, also got his eye on the likes of djibril Cisse, Paul mcshane, giles Barnes, Steve Sidwell, nrc, swp, Scott Parker, Wes Brown and John o shea, bright things ahead for the villa!

Well, they are all as good as signed aint they

The lad who posted all these rumours is certainly not afraid to speculate, fair play to him.

Opinions on Dejan Stankovic of Inter Milan as a target anyone? http://www.football-rumours.co.uk/

This is really, really getting boring. Just pointscoring all the time.

Totally agree & generally the same posters to.

Really who might that be then?

No point scoring going on here, just having a laugh hence smilies!

If disagreeing with the norm and suggesting Villa wont do something is point scoring might as well card everyone!