El_Hierro

He's a he** of a lot better than MGP was at 19, that's for sure. A far greater talent than MGP ever was. No comparison really. But no point in arguing as we'll just have to wait and see. MGP went to Blackburn at the age of 23. If Tarik continues his current progress he's gonna be a star.

Now, most of you haven't heard of this next suggestion of mine, but maybe one of my fellow compadres might have a say. I'd like us to go for Tarik Elyounoussi, one of the biggest (maybe even the biggest) talents in Norwegian football these days. 19 yrs old, creative attacker/attacking midfielder. He's a quick little technician, creative, lots of skill, great workrate. He's a star in the U-21 national team and probably a first team regular (for Norway) very soon. I'm telling you, this guy is going to be big, a lot bigger than Morten Gamst Pedersen ever will be in England. Lets snap him now before some of the bigger clubs pick him up. I can definately see a club like Man.Utd coming in for him in at some point soon (2 years time).

Speaking of which, I remember I wanted Villa to sign Daniel Amokachi after the 1994 World Cup in the US, where he had a fantastic tournament. Didn't happen as he went to Everton. A couple of weeks later I found out that Villa in fact had been offered him by his agent and I was furious that we hadn't signed him. Didn't work out for him all that well at Everton although he was troubled with injuries, so I guess I didn't matter much in the end.

Many true words, Rocafella, but I don't think I'm overdoing the superlatives. I'm saying he's a great player (surely as he's playing regulary in Serie A and that he had a great WC with a couple of good matches, one of which was excellent. Whether he'll make it in the PL is a whole other story. And yes, this is the face you're talking about

Sometimes you don't need to see too many games of a player to figure he's class. Can't speak for Cyber, but I saw Muntari 3 times in last years WC, and my view based on those 3 games is that he truly is a great player. Don't know which games you refer to in the WC when you call him shit, but it can't have been Ghana's. Suppose he was average against Italy, but truly fantastic vs Czech and also very good against Brazil in a game they dominated the midfield and deserved to win.

Yes, now we're getting somewhere although, as I've said several times already, e.g. page 14 and 17 on this thread, I'd take Appiah over Muntari any day. However this Muntari rumour seems to have started on FansFc, which is from what I can understand, a place where most people can have "their" rumours published. So probably nothing in it.

I see Martin Laursen has been linked with a move to FC Copenhagen. Don't know if there's anything in it of course (as goes with most rumours I suppose), but I don't think it's all that impossible. In fact, I can see it happen in a swap deal with Copenhagen's Norwegian international centre back Brede Hangeland. MON quite possibly after a centre back....Laursen's injuries....Laursen wanting home?....MON's friendship with the Norwegian national coach Hareide who will give his recommendations on Hangeland. It all adds up in my head... :winkold: Supposedly, Hangeland was close to a move to West Ham just before the transfer window shut in January and West Ham decided to go for Upson instead. At the time Hangeland's agent said that there were several English clubs tracking Hangeland. The player himself has said all along that he wants to play in the Premiership. There, I just started a rumour. Fun, isn't it?

I'd prefer M.Richards but could prove hard to get. Maybe L.Young, but he's soon to be 28. Not a problem for a right back I guess.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, Rocafella, but who would you like to see on Villa's right next season? Young or a newcomer?

That's a good list. Btw Milner started on the bench today. Surely he must be pissed and wants away :winkold:

Depends which other clubs are after him. If we're lucky top clubs won't go for him this summer.

With the form Tevez is showing at the moment I think he's definitely worth going for. Brilliant again today. Off to a standing ovation. Still undecided on NRC. I think he's actually done quite all right this season given the massive stick he's been getting. (Though some of it probably is his own fault.) Even been receiving death threats, so I suppose it's not easy performing under those circumstances. What I do know is that he would be a step up from McCann, but then again there might be even larger steps out there.

Just saw a replay of last night's UEFA-cup match between Shakhtar and Sevilla. I do think I'm spot on with this bit of scouting job for the Villa. (I'll do it for free though :winkold: ) Matuzalem was by far the best player on the pitch in the first half. Faded a little in the second, but still good and scored this bizarre, but incredibly well taken goal. Appiah and Matuzalem in the middle of the park? Yes, please.

Well, I see a lot of Arsenal fans on different internet forums today who thought they were lucky last night. A side that very nearly beat Chelsea's first XI in the League cup final a couple of weeks ago. Oh, sorry...a better side than the one who nearly beat Chelsea. Because Aston Villa have been standing still in the last couple of seasons, bringing in mediocraty, whereas other teams have strengthened wisely. Our squad simply isn't good enough and we have a lot of catching up to do. I also think that we, the fans, lack knowledge of how good other teams squads really are. We take a look at our squad and then at the other teams squads, teams that we like to think we're better than, we compare the players, and we come to the conclution that we are indeed better than them so why the heck aren't we ahead of them? Take a player like Teemu Tainio at Spurs for example, linked with Villa in the january window. Injured in january when Spurs were shite, and now look at the last run of games where Spurs just can't stop winning, scoring a crazy 24 in the last 7, Tainio has been back in the side again. I'm not putting that all down to Tainio of course, but truly a great and very important player for Spurs. Now, how many of us really wanted him back in january, when MON supposedly was after him? We didn't really know who he was, did we? We think we have a squad equally as good as top half teams but we just don't. Sorry. And yes, I blame Ellis and O'Leary. Like I said, we have a lot of catching up to do to yet again compete with the likes of Tottenham, Blackburn, Newcastle, Everton, Bolton and Portsmouth. And then there are four more teams I've heard.

He's too old. Like Rocafella said. Not that many fabulous goals to be honest, but just wait for the last one. Now, wouldn't that be nice to see at Villa Park?

The more I think about it the more I'd like to see Darren Bent at the club. Think he'd be awesome alongside Carew. That said, it must be exciting being MON at the moment, with all that cash burning a hole in his pockets and so many talented footballers across Europe. There are may I'd love to see at Villa. I've listed a few. All gettable targets imo, although MON surely has a massive job on his hands selling the club and his ambitions to potential targets. Yaya Toure, Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah are mentioned in this thread already. Others include DEFENDERS Luisão - big, strong Brazilian central defender (I think we need one of those) currently playing for Benfica. OK, I admit it won't be easy luring a Benfica player to Villa atm (just consider what Petit could have done for us at DM), but surely the Premiership must be the promised land (for some anyway)... Diego Placente - attacking left back at Celto Vigo. Impressed me hugely when he was at Bayer Leverkusen. Rarely makes a mistake defensively and much better going forward than Boomer. And with Celta possibly going down this year, surely gettable. Can also play right back. MIDFIELDERS Tranquillo Barnetta - young, creative midfielder currently at Bayer Leverkusen, impressed me hugely in last years world cup. Might be looking at bigger options than Villa atm. Matuzalem - Now, this is probably one of the most exciting "unknown" players playing in Europe. Creative, attacking midfielder with a great shot and fantastic skills. Don't know if it's true, but I heard he chose Shakhtar Donetsk over Barcelona because of their training facilities so I guess there's a lot of money involved in the Ukrainian club...Probably enjoys playing CL football for Shakhtar, but when Julius Aghahowa left Shakhtar for the mighty Wigan, then surely it must be possible to get Matuzalem to Villa? Ivan de la Pena - currently at Espanyol. He's getting older, but at 30 has got a couple more great seasons in him. Has been fantastic at central midfield for Espanyol this season. Great passer. Might just fancy a dig at the Premiership towards the end of his career.

I'd take Muntari for the sole reason of his goal celebration in last year's world cup. Anybody remember his dance and face....priceless.

That's right, and his name is Stephen Appiah!! http://youtube.com/watch?v=jW6gTnpa_18 The best player in Turkey :!: :!: OK, I'll stop raving about Appiah now, until something materializes that is...

Nope, not talking him down, excellent player from what I've heard. (Has seen him play on some occasions where he's been good but never outstanding.) Just wouldn't want Villa to spend £25-30M on one player that's all. (And that's generally speaking and not necessarily referring to David Villa.) I just think Villa and MON should use whatever money available wisely and bring in more quality players that are perhaps a little bit cheaper than just one or two really expensive ones. Either way 10 goals in the Primera is not fantastic when it comes to goalscoring and it's not given that he would be a success in the Premiership, even if he's great in Spain. And we do have players now who can take a mean freekick, a good corner and score on penalties. :winkold: But like I said, it's not gonna happen anyway, so no point in discussing it.

A lot of hype about David Villa on here. Maybe he deserves it too, what do I know. First of all, he's not coming to Villa, he's too "big" for that at the moment. And even if he was available for us, I'm not so sure I'd want it to happen anyway. IMO (and it may sound crazy to you), I'd say if we have a £40-50M (haven't got a clue really) budget I wouldn't want the club to "gamble" £25-30M on a player we have no guarantee whatsoever will succeed in the Premiership. It's a different arena. I'd much rather we pay £5-6M for Ashton or even £15-20 for Bent, who are both familiar to the Premiership. FTR, he's "only" got 10 league goals so far this season, despite only missing two games. Not great. I appreciate he's behind some other goals as well. Mind you Kanoute has scored 18, almost twice as much in the same league.

I'll go for that. Appiah and Sidwell and I'd be very pleased. Why not take advantage of our newly found relationship with Lyon and take their right back Anthony Réveillère? Fantastick attacking right back, one of the most underrated and best right backs in Europe IMO. Swap him with Hughes and throw Delaney in as well

One player I would absolutely love to see at Villa during the summer is Stephen Appiah, currently at Fenerbache. IMO Appiah must be the perfect target for MON, strong, combative, creative, goalscoring, really an all-round midfielder. I think he would be fantastic alongside Petrov, both with defensive skills and lots of creativity. A smashing midfield duo IMO. I'm not sure it will happen though. I think we'll go for Sidwell.

Riise? Now, that's just great. Both Bellamy and Riise on the scoresheet now. Someone tell Carew to beat the crap out of Bouma in the hotelroom tonight. If that doesn't bring out the goals then I'm out of ideas. :winkold:

Guess who just scored against Barcelona.... Great ability to move on and leave things in the dressing room (or rather the hotel room). Just what we need

Don't rely on wikipedia, it doesn't take substitute appearances into account. He was a sub a good few times for Spurs. OK. Checked at Soccernet and he has 71 games in all competitions for Spurs, both starting and as a sub. 21 goals in all competitions (14 in the league, 7 in cups, including a hattrick vs Crystal Palace in the FA Cup 3rd round). Still isn't 1 in 3. But this thread isn't about Frederic Kanoute. Let's not go off topic, as we have another forum for that? Actually it's 14 in 41 starts for Spurs (can't really count coming on in the 89th minute and not scoring in these statistics) which is a tiny bit better than 1 in 3, but your right, it's off topic, and on another point, it's not really my business :winkold: