villabromsgrove

I was surprised by the very recent attempts by the top four Saudi clubs to buy big name players, until I read an article published just two weeks ago that confirmed PIF (Newcastle's owners) had taken control of all of these top four teams. It seems to copy the emergence of Saudi owned LIV Golf as a disruptive force in Professional Golf, which has led to the total capitulation of the PGA, totally down to huge sums of money being waved about. This transfer window has just become much more important to Villa, because future transfer windows could be carved up by talented footballers succumbing to greed and avarice, as many golfers have done over the last couple of years. It will force prices up yet again, so Villa need to get the players that we want and need in this window.

NSWE do not leak information about transfers. Most clubs we deal with over transfers comment on how professional Villa are with their transfer dealings and this reputation stands us in good stead. It may be frustrating to some, just waiting to find out who will be joining us this transfer window, as it means that 99% of rumours and links are merely guesswork by posers desperate to increase their view totals on Twitter and click numbers on News Now. I'm sure we will make several exciting signings in the coming weeks and imo these will be worth waiting for. If we can't be positive about all things 'Villa' at this time with the huge progress we've made recently, then I guess we will have to accept that we're a negative bunch of fans by nature, .

Pau Torres fits Emery's blueprint perfectly. He's quick, very good technically, plays accurate progressive passes and positions himself well due to intelligent reading of the game. With Tieleman playing in front of him our ability to pass successfully out from back to front will increase considerably.

I'm a patient optimist, so I'm sat back enjoying the warm glow of being a Villa fan at this moment in time, and dreaming about quiet approaches being made for players such as Jonathan David and Pedro Goncalves, while adding up the goals that those two and Ollie Watkins would score for us next season. I can dream!

Nick, the point I was trying to make was that if Nico has any doubts at all about moving from Bilbao at his young age, he should probably stay where he is for now. When I lived in Bromsgrove my next door neighbour was a Veterinarian from Leon in the Basque country He was a single man and in over a decade he never adjusted to living here. He often told me that he missed the community life that he grew up in, and was only here as he had a well paid job and could send money home to his large family.

I would love us to sign Nico. Not for what he's achieved so far, but for what I believe he could become under Emery's coaching. However, I would only want him to join us if he was honestly and openly 100% committed to joining us. My concern would be that he may become homesick, fail to settle and want to return to Bilbao in the next couple of seasons for a much reduced fee.

The Spanish transfer window opens on July 3rd. Other European windows open on July 1st. So there's no "rule breaking" if we're targeting foreign players.

I bet Monchi and Unai are working away in virtual meetings even before he's got his work permit. It's going to be such an exciting summer!

Before people condemn Monchi, take a bit of time to research the yearly celebration that concludes Christmas in Spain. It's called the "Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos", and is a much looked forward to celebration especially for the children. The three Kings that are supposed to have visited the baby Jesus in the stable, make a procession through the streets given out copious amounts of sweets to the children. These Kings wear their historical robes and as "Balthasar" was a black man he is always portrayed with a black face. It is considered an honour to be asked to represent one of the Kings, and Spaniards would be dismayed to think that this is considered offensive by "far away football fans" who seem to have very little idea about their culture. Monchi is a superb new 'signing' and this is what we should be discussing on this thread in my opinion.

I think that NSWE have been waiting patiently for the club to reach the point we're at. Villa have now arrived at the "lift off" stage where our owners are able to implement big structural changes they have been planning to facilitate considerable growth over the next "five years". What I find hugely exciting is their intention to be available to the 'operations team' on a day to day basis. With a lot of owners this might be a worrying thing, but Nassef and Wes are very accomplished and powerful businessmen who will sit effectively at the top of our new operations structure. We now have seven top professionals driving Villa onwards and upwards.

I'm just going to bed after celebrating Monchi's appointment. This is a huge statement for Villa going forward and it surprises me that on a day when NSWE reunited two guys who are at the top of world football, I have to search back to page two to find this thread. NSWE are the two people who have made this happen. Let's give them the full appreciation they deserve. I'm putting it at the top of page one where it should be!

It was going to be a quiet night in, but now we're heading out to Malvern town for a mini pub tour celebration, then returning to sample some serious 18 year old Whisky. Welcome to the Villa Señor 'Monchi'.

Pace frightens the opposition. I noticed a few managers last season say in their pre match press conferences that they were wary of Bailey's pace. Signing Williams would potentially give us a 90 minute pace threat on one or both wings depending on how Emery chooses to use Bailey and Williams.

I haven't got a clue about seedings, but I do have a good idea about the strength of the Villa team that will play the qualifying matches in August. Why are we worried about seedings? Our very talented squad will have had a full pre-seasons coaching with Emery and his staff, (plus some outstanding additional players that we don't yet know about). We will be big favourites to win a qualifying round against any other team,

I guess because I'm an old guy and I've been retired so long, I forget that most of you don't have the unlimited spare time that I have to browse and read the huge amount of often meaningless info (on the net) related to European football. I assumed that a lot of us had heard about Monchi, because he's reached an almost iconic status over the recent decade. The guy has a huge network of scouts and contacts world wide and is totally obsessive about what he does. He is highly regarded as a director of football.

I cannot believe that some of us are bored about waiting for Monchi to sign! I've had my fingers crossed since I first realised there was a chance that he'd join Emery at our club. If it happens (as I believe it will) I will be opening my whisky cabinet and celebrating, but in the meantime I'm going to enjoy the excitement of anticipating top class people (world class?) coming to us. It's amazing how far we've come in the last five years. NSWE, EMERY, MONCHI .... This will be the best AVFC set up that I have ever seen in my seven decades of supporting the mighty Villa!

Top post!

He looks brilliant (I know it's only YouTube). He's lightning quick, genuinely two footed and is developing a good physique. He has very little end product in goals or assists to show for all his dominance and that would normally be a red flag, but he's still not quite 21and with Emery to coach him I think he has all the tools to be a real contributor to our goal tally. One thing's for sure, if we sign him opposition defenders are going to hate playing against Nico as they will have to double up on him all the time which will create space for others. I have this mental image of Williams on the right and a fully fit Bailey on the left setting fire to both touchlines in some games!

I read that Monchi speaks Spanish (obviously), French, and English fluently, and is now also proficient in Italian. That's very important in his job.

Monchi will be our most important "signing" this summer. Emery is brilliant as a coach, manager, motivator and whatever else he turns his hand to. Not only is he extremely hard working and superbly talented, he is obsessive to the point of compulsion when it comes down to even the finest of details. That's why Monchi is going to be such a huge addition, because Unai needs someone alongside him to share the massive work load so that he doesn't burn out. Monchi is so experienced and equally obsessive and driven as well as being supremely capable and knowledgeable, he will be invaluable to Emery. The two of them are a perfect fit for each other.

I get the impression that the only players who leave Villa will be those that we want to leave from now on.

Monchi has quite an imposing persona. He looks like he won't be dicked about.

If anyone hasn't watched Monchi's YouTube "master classes" yet you really should. It's one of the reasons I'm buzzing about having him here at Villa.

I wouldn't mind betting that as Emery and Monchi are good friends Unai has already been discussing his main targets and asking Monchi to check out best alternatives (strictly off the record between mates just chatting as mates do of course) if top targets can't or don't want to join the Villa Project.

I might have known that you would go for the musical statement Mazrim. It's not the heavy rock that I associate you with though.