QldVilla

The club has already told us that they have a plan in place, they won't get every player and will have to compromise in some cases, this has already started. So the spend is irrelevant, they've already set a budget and are acting on it.

I believe to stay up it was vital that we were able to keep the spine of the team, this has already blown up as Tuanzebe and Abraham are unlikely to be coming, maybe something will happen late in the transfer period, but unlikely. 

History already tells us that in most cases only the team that finished first in the Championship stay up the following season. I would argue that although we had ups and downs we were as good as any team in the Championship in the final 3 months of the season.

Keeping that spine would have made the job just that little easier, but Smith will now have to start again with a relatively new squad, and again history tells us that Smiths ways take a little while to develop amongst the playing group, and we can't afford a slow start in the PL. It will be easier with a pre-season but when we're looking at possibly 6-7 new first 11 and another 5-6 squad cover, it won't be easy.

I have no doubt we will sign the right players, but the job isn't easy and a lot of work behind the scenes will need to occur for all the stars to align into Villa staying up.

17 hours ago, Villan_of_oz said:

I will look into this, I hope this is true. 

I've been looking at it as well, apparently there's a few different ways you can get the Pl in Australia. Through the apple box, fetch box which costs about $500, xbox etc, apparently there's a connection in each and just need to sign up to Optus PL pack $14.95 per month. Every PL match, champions league etc. That's my plan anyway.

22 minutes ago, AvfcRigo82 said:

Na, I am going Abraham.

Personally, I hope it's Tuanzebe though!  

... then Abraham afterwards.

Agree. First look said Abraham, but probably reading too much into it.

He had a great first season before the injury, but doesn't seem to have found his best since. Even at his best I think he was just short of being PL quality. Maybe he can do a job, but think if a reasonable offer comes in the club will probably sell.

5 minutes ago, Junxs said:

He struggled in the 2 legs v WBA too. Aside from a penalty goal he didnt really get involved in the playoffs.

Having said that he scored 5 goals in the 10 games that he played v top 5 throughout the season: you'd take a 1 in 2 ratio against the better teams

23/10 Norwich - 0 (subbed off for Hogan)

10/11 Derby - 1

7/12 WBA - 0

13/12 Leeds - 1

8/2 Shef U - 1

16/2 WBA - 0

2/3 Derby - 1

Playoffs 1 goal in 3 games

Supporters forget that Tammy was out for a few weeks before the play offs injured, and I believe him and a couple of other players were playing injured through the play offs. It's been a long season in the Championship and he played nearly every game with no rotation,  Tammy is a must signature, but we need another quality striker to rotate and freshen.

1 hour ago, Pez1974 said:

I've said before that £12m feels about right.

We saw him for 4 months and reckon he's a world beater. Everyone else will see a guy who did great in the Championship for about 18 games having barely played in the previous 3 years. Yes, he could be the second coming but he could break down again, or not make the step up.

People think £12m is nothing but a 4 or 5 year deal, all in, could be £30m+. If you're buying Mings then your not Man City so relegation is likely to be a permanent risk.

Also, other clubs will have seen his time with us and seen how he bonded - a lot of PL pundits were saying this in the lead up to Monday, such as "you can't imagine him playing anywhere else" (BBC 5Live) - they might not even bother trying to get him so certain is it that he's coming here.

Agree. I made similar sentiments the other day, all the stars seem to have aligned for Mings to be a VIlla player, his obvious love for the club would put off other clubs, and Bournemouth have no reason to be unreasonable, 6 months ago they probably would have bitten someone's hand off if offered similar money, it's a good deal for all concerned.

Can't argue with any of those released, Jedinak and Whelan's experience and leadership will be a big loss behind the scenes, I thought maybe one of them might of been offered a  coaching position, but obviously depends on their circumstances. Good luck to all of them.

7 hours ago, briny_ear said:

We may have finished 3rd......

Or we may have finished 5th! 

Tomato... tomato....we finished 5th or we were the 3rd team to go up. We were the best of the rest 3rd.

12 minutes ago, Teale's 'tache said:

I don't see getting a good price for an asset as playing silly buggers, there's nothing malicious from their side, they will sell to us if we meet their price, it's just business.

If a Premier League team comes in offering more than we are willing to pay and first team football, he will go to them, yes he wants to come to Villa but he's not going to ruin his career trying to force that. Nor should he.

We have the advantage because we know he wants come to us, but that only really helps us if multiple clubs bid the same amount, even then we have to be competitive with the wages we offer him.

I want us to sign him as much as anyone, and I think we likely will, but it's not a done deal, it's a complicated situation, this could be done quickly if all parties are willing and a price is agreed quickly or it could rumble on all summer.

No one said it was a done deal, I’ve already stated Villa may not match a silly transfer fee from another club. Bournemouth may decide to keep him, no one knows. But as I’ve stated I think the stars are aligned for him to become a Villa player, I’m a half glass full person, I know how things work, but I’m not going to look for impediments as to why the transfer won’t occur.

23 minutes ago, Teale's 'tache said:

Although I'd love to agree football is a business now, and sentiment has very little to do in transfer dealings anymore. Bournemouth will try to get the best price for their asset, they won't care if it's from us or somebody else, their only consideration will be if they are selling to a rival then add a bit more to the price.

That works both ways. Other clubs will know that Mings wants to go to Villa, if Bournemouth play around Mings could refuse to go to another club, and they are caught with him. Mings is a professional, he won't sit around and sook, but as has been shown numerous times over many years, the players have just as much power, IMO Bournemouth will play this with a straight bat. They recoup their investment and maybe a little more on a player they'd probably written off 6 months ago, and the player is happy to go to a club that wants him.

Yes it's a business and it's also swings and roundabouts, if Bournemouth play silly buggers, down the track They may want a Villa player and the serve can be returned.

Mings is an important signing for Villa, the best defender we have had since Laursen and is a leader on the pitch. I believe we'll sign him, yes another club may offer silly money, but I think he wants to be at Villa, Bournemouth will know that and should be reasonable in dealings with Villa. Purslow has already put it out there, we won't pay over for players we've improved. Where Mings wants to play his football will play a big part.

I'm quietly optimistic about our first year back in the PL. The players will get a pre-season under Smith which they didn't get last season, and we will have better quality players in the squad. We may have finished 3rd, but IMO we were the best team in the Championship, and those players will be a better team next season.

Without knowing the final squad I think we can finish as high as 10-12th. It's not going to be easy but I have faith in the club, the players and coaching staff.

From the comments in the interview with Purslow and Smith, they already have a very good idea of which players they want to bring in. I’d suggest as others have that the loanee’s with options to buy will be the first set of business. Ming’s, El Ghazi and Hause. I also believe they’ll go hard on Tuenzebe and Abraham. Chelsea were ready to sell Abraham to Wolves in January so even with the possible transfer embargo and comments by the player, I think he will be a Villa player. If we can bed those five players down we will be in a good place. I think we will cherry pick some young talent from the championship who are ready for the premier league 2-3 players, then I think will go out to sign 1-2 very good players either with PL experience or from Europe. There’s a few young starlets in the Dutch and German leagues who want to play in the PL and if the right player would love to see them at Villa.

What a terrific day. I was always confident we would go up this season even through the tough Xmas/New Year period.

One of the highlights of my life to be at the game today, outstanding.

PS just saw Steve Nicholls on ESPN talking about Villa, what a prat. He obviously doesn't watch Championship games, was saying Villa only have championship players, none are proven in the PL. If your going to be paid to be a pundit at least don't be a lazy one.

Id be surprised if Terry left after one season as an assistant. He's on a learning curve and would still be forming his own coaching methodology. He doesn't come across to me as someone who throws himself into something without being ready, and if Villa are promoted another couple of seasons as an assistant will be a good base for him to start his management career.

I was of the feeling that the team had a bit of stage fright against WBA. 2-1 win first leg, only need a draw, players not wanting to miss the final with cards etc... It's one game now, everything on the line, last game of the season. We may just see the best of Villa with the shackles, mentally, off.

6 minutes ago, DJ_Villain said:

Bosnich isn’t dead

And I don't think he remembers he spent his best years at Villa. In Australia all he talks about is his little time with Man U and Chelsea.

Well done Jed,, a little shaky during the game, but huge in the penalty shoot out.

Fear the beard, can't fake experience in those moments.

We didn't play well, but through to the final.

Now the hard part, trying to buy a ticket for the final from Australia and book flights, not going to miss a bit of Villa history.

It's too slow we need to be breaking quickly, no urgency.

WE know WBA game plan, batter anyone on the ball and see what we can get away with, and refs allowing it...

WBA likes other clubs in the Championship have gone out with the instruction to hack down Grealish, then they want to whinge when a penalty is awarded in a vital game? Talk about spitting the dummy...