remotevillan

exactly why do some find it impossible to understand that it doesn't matter if MON has found players he wants and Randy has agreed to back him that unless clubs are prepared to sell their players (most clubs don't sell their best players in january) then their is nothing they can do. That's not entirely true. I think, in that situation, a truly forward-thinking club chairman might sanction kidnap as an option. You can see how it might work: after getting the brush-off from Boothroyd, O'Neill and Krulak wait in the bushes outside Watford's training ground at dusk, carrying a sack and a cosh. Lerner has the motor running in an unmarked Transit. Young comes strolling out, whistling ... there's a swift struggle ... the cosh rises and falls once, twice ... Young is bundled into the van and the next day is photographed smiling woozily on the pitch at VP wearing his Villa shirt and a couple of bumps on his head. It's the way all transfers will be done in the future. And the mind control chip that was retrieved from the er..."asteroid impact" could be reprogrammed to make him a Villain for life...

I hope what Martin O Neill does, like Alex Ferguson and other great managers is seek a three-pronged balance between : Homegrown, English (or British/Irish anyway) and Foreign. Every manager should take a punt once in a while too. Even sir Alex had his duds.

exactly why do some find it impossible to understand that it doesn't matter if MON has found players he wants and Randy has agreed to back him that unless clubs are prepared to sell their players (most clubs don't sell their best players in january) then their is nothing they can do. ...and that the players themselves want to move here or even move for that matter.

I think he comes across as refreshingly candid and honest. He's shrewd and tight-lipped when he needs to be but not when there's no necessity. He certainly perked me up and boosted my morale with that 4 or 5 Petrovs comment. He understands the fans frustration, fears and desires. He probably shares them and him and his superiors are seeking to right the years of neglect that crept into the corridors of Villa Park.

I think there's a couple of ways of looking at it. Firstly: These ten days have laid the foundations, and can be considered as solid progress towards a few new signings. Every day that passes is a step closer to another player being signed. I think if you feel like this, then you're happy to sit back, relax, believing that the Sky Sports News ticker is going to explode with Villa related activity. Or, You may feel that the first ten days are indicative to how the transfer window will pan out. Managers are finding it hard to buy, clubs aren't willing to sell, and there will be very little movement. Unless a club is willing to be held to ransom, big names are thin on the ground. If you're currently thinking like this then you're probably starting to get a little bit concerned. I think that, at this stage, either opinion is equally as valid. Either one can only be a guess though, because nobody really knows what is happening. The truth, as usual, is probably slap bang in the middle of those two view points. It is difficult to buy in Jan and MON will not get everyone he wants but he will wrap up a few before the end of the window. It would be nice to have at least one permanent Petrov-level signing already but I feel that Lerner really does mean business and when it rains it may definitely pour, making my half full cup overflow!...

Barrys preferred position is at left midfield and Moore and presumably Gabby can also cover there. Also, if (a very, super large if) MON signs SWP and Young then one will end up on the left. Its not the same priority that RB, RM and Strikers are at the moment.

It seems to be true. I read it in the paper today and it seems definite and concrete. He seems to be stubborn about staying at Chelsea though. A loan for him might be on the cards though Jose seems to want the dosh now.

I'm sure Martin O Neill will be addressing the lack of striker goals/cutting edge issue in this window and at the very least we'll see a loan deal or a few when Baros inevitably hits the dusty trail.

Lets hope MON shares our sentiments... Bent played about half an hour against us with serious knee injury and helped his team.I'm sure MON likes that kind of commitment. Well half of our first team line up is currently crocked so he must!

Lets hope MON shares our sentiments...

Without Dica, Bent and Young a top half finish is a possibility. With those three it would be a near certainty. A top half finish would be excellent either way. This season should all be about staying up now. A winning run could take us up towards UEFA cup territory but that goes for about 10 or 15 teams. If I had a choice now, I'd bloody well take a comfortable 12th place finish. We've blooded a lot of young guys this year and that will stand our squad in good stead as the reinforcements trickle in.

Thanks. Thats no harm for the squad.

What position does he play?

Unlike Mr Lerner, I dont have too much loose cash for gambling with...

I dont see why we shouldn't. I believe Bent is for sale and provided he doesnt want to stay in London, we would be a better option than those clubs with stronger striker rotas. I believe Martin will go for him and Lerner will outbid either Portsmouth or Spurs. Young will be far better off at Villa than stuck on the bench behind Lennon at Spurs or in the Championship with Watford. I think if we could offload Baros for a few million (and 4-6 million is not outside the realms of possibility with the money in La Liga) then 10-12 for Bent and 7-10 for Young would be a tidy bit of business for the January window me thinks...

**** me we are favourites for ashley young ,shauwn wright phillips and joey barton , if we got them three i think id ejaculate. I think if we got all of them, most members of this site would let you ejaculate on them! Okay I've crossed that line again...

That Romanian guy is an exciting rumour. Jan is the time for overseas and lower league raids. And the Egyptian guy too. Know nothing about either of them but I'd be happy to take a punt. Also, I like Baros but I dont think hes working out here or in England period. If we could get a couple of million for him, then I'd gladly replace him with a less technically gifted but more english-game proven player.

Apart from his free-kicks, what does this skinny, slow, non-tech player give us? options...

The car would probably be dented and he'd stroll off oblivious(big lad!). Seriously though I think hes good. Some people have a habit of rating players ( and teams) on their current form. Players and teams form ebbs and flows and a move can rejuvanate players and save money. Usually the inform players arent going anywhere. Its the nature of the beast! The sensible thing to do is find an average. Harewood may not be as good as last season but hes not as bad as this either. He'd be a solid squad addition.

Shaun Wright Philips? Would be a nice right wing option as well as right back squad cover. Maybe MON knows his old man from the BBC punditry and can have a word (on a park bench of course with no envelopes or suitcases...) Lukas Neill? A solid addition to the back four. Alan Smith? On paper, a real MON kind of player that would be a nice compliment upfront. Peter Crouch? An excellent signing to scare the beejeezus out of defences and give our wingers plenty to work with. Wayne Bridge? Excellent but a Bridge too far? Sorry but it had to be done. Jermain Defoe? Dunno why people on this site are so down on him. He's obviously quality but not worth an astronomical (12-15 million) price tag. Robbie Keane? Again, a real MON kind of player. Saviola or other Latino flair boys? Look at West Ham. These guys dont necessarily translate to the premiership. James Milner? A good solid January signing. Maybe we'll see some of the above in the claret and blue soon but hopefully Martin O Neill can uncover some unpolished (or polished)gems from abroad or even the lower leagues.