Philosopher

I don't think Gardner will ever be captian material. I don't think he's particularly bright lets say, seems like all his intelligence is used up on football. Last season that guy played him in a defensive mid role, when Gardner has alway been the type to dictate play, get forward and score goals, he never really had a run of games either. So I am not surprised he struggled, when you throw in the fact EVERYONE struggled you have to sympathise with him really. Maybe the FAR better was a bit much, but I do believe he can become a better player than Wilshire, as I implied in my previous post its just hope based on his impressive potential. He has a long way to go. All this talk about Wilshire is a little over the top, He's only had 18 months of looking a very good player, and now he has to come back from a 16 month lay off. We must also remember 12 months of that was alongside Fabregas, and Song who are both fantastic players (the other 6 in an otherwise average Bolton team). Things are lot easier when you are in that kind of company. A better comparison for Gardner is Gerrard or Lampard in terms the type of player he is. He has a hell of a long way to get to their level though.

Gardner to me CAN become a far better player than Wilshire. Pace wise they are similar, passing and awareness they are similar, but Gardner is a unit, strong, tall, good in the air and scores goals. If we can bring him through, a midfield of Gardner, El Ahmadi and Bannan could be excellent. But its all what COULD be its relying on all three players delivering on their impressive promise. I have high hopes, but that is all!

All these posters on here going into panic mode because of Feynoord's desperate behaviour must feel like right chumps now! I always expected this deal to get done when I read Lamberts comments last week. It seems to me that Feynoord's chairman got his knickers in a twist because he didn't understand that our tour of America was also important for business thus our CEO had to be on the tour too! Which is why the transfer had to wait till they got back. By business I am not ITK, I am refering to things like seeking new sponsors, and expanding the Villa brand as there would be no point in touring abroad otherwise. Also, CI do you really have to be such an antagonistic little so and so?

Oscar is a central midfield playmaker, doesn't really play behind a striker. Sturridge is not a second striker in a typical sense. He likes to come deep to pick up the ball and run at players, but he doesn't have the vision, awareness, or passing ability needed to play in the hole. Thats why at bolton he played off a target man or on the left wing and at chelsea he played left or right wing. Chelsea are going to play a 4-5-1 for sure so for that they will need 5/6 attacking mids in their squad plus 5/6 centre mids. Now if Chelsea go and sign Hulk you can say Sturridge may be off. But as it stands they only have 3 recognised strikers Torres, Sturridge and Lukaku (who is going out on loan most likely) Which means currently sturridge is very much needed in their squad! So forget Sturridge guys!

Evra cost Man U 6 million. Vidic was 8.5 million.We could go on, Sagna 4.5 million, Zabeleta 7.5, Naughton AND Walker 8 million. Then you have the big money fullbacks! Enrique 10 million, Bosingwa 12 million, Del Hornio 9 million (I think), Cole 16 million.

It's don't understand why someone else at the club can't conduct the over seeing of the transfer? Faulkner? A tour to the states is as much about business as getting the squad fit, I would have though to make the most of any business oppourtunities, Faulkner would have to be on the trip as well. I think people are worrying too much, If the deal gets done then great I think Vlaar is a good defender, but his fitness record is terrible, so signing him is a considerable risk in my book. I won't lose any sleep over this deal whatever happens. As even though his injury record is terrible he won't be on too high a wage, and his fee would at most be 3.5 million pounds as the Feynoord chairman has already stated its a 4 million euro buyout clause.

He said 'off FOR NOW' This to me means if Villa come back in and meet his release clause which is supposed to be around 4 million euros then the deal is back on!

In fact only Song got more assists for Arsenal last season

Don't think Walcott would leave Arsenal, besides I don't think there is any real difference between Walcott and Gabby! Gabby is a bit better in the air and can play left as well as right. Walcott a little more agile, sligthly better technique! NO WAY IS JOHNSON BETTER THAN WALCOTT! More skill yes, better crosser yes, but Walcott has much more pace, is a better finisher and his final ball is not as bad as made out, 12 assists is pretty decent, plus 11 goals in 41 starts and 5 sub apps! When has johnson EVER achieved those numbers!

Gabby's girlfriend Miss Wheeler is HOT, HOT, HOT! Damn! Yep I'd definately knock her up!

What a deluded individual. I think he needs to see a psychiatrist.

Yeah right theres no way fergie would sell welback! The really is pie in the sky!

Would love berbertov. Stroppy, yes when he's not a regular, lazy yes! But the guys technical ability and intelligence on the football pitch is superb, his age doesn't worry me as of the physical abilities its only his strength that helps him and thats always the last thing to go. He could easily play into his late 30's. I'd say he has 5 years left at this level. I would sell Ireland and give berbertov Ireland's wages! Berbertov is the best second striker in the league, **** Carroll or Ireland, Berbertov's a different class!

BTW feynoord Gary Cahill - Chelsea and England, Garth Barry - Man City and England have come through our youth team also.

Its very hard for the more technical player to come through in the premiership, because the physical demands are such that they need to be an athlete and agressive to make an instant impact. This is the problem with players like Bannan (technically very good, could do well in dutch football i think) best passer in our squad, good vision and awareness, but small, weak and not very good defensively. In the premiership our midfield when playing 4-4-2 offers no proctection when Bannan plays centrally, so he's been used mainly as a sub in the wide positions which is not his game. Clark technically very good for a central defender, but a bit weak for the premier league, and not the best at COMPETING in the air, so he's been used mainly as a defensive midfielder. The premiership is much more demanding and so for the young players with little experience it very difficult, and takes time to bring them through. Only freaks like Rooney make instant impacts. Rooney was fully grown at 18 and a naturally agressive demeanor with lots of technical ability, with strength and pace. Delfouneso's problem is on the pitch he is a bit laxidazical, needs to be more proactive, more aggressive. He's got lots of skill, good dribbler - keeps the ball quite close to him, good balance, some pace, some strength, gets into go positions in the box, 6'1. In the box though he can be too static. If someone could get his head in the right place, you would have an international class striker, but otherwise he won't make it at the top level. I still have hope though. Personally I think many of our young players could do well in Holland. Weimann (who won't be going out on loan) would score hatfuls.

Also Vlaar is considered to be a very good reader of the game, so if he was paired with say Clark who has a bit of pace and is also a good reader of the game you could play a slightly higher line than normal and get away with it. Also Vlaar is a good passer short and long, so our distribution should be good, and as he was school in Holland I expect to see him look to play the ball out, rather than Dunne and Collins recreations of the john smiths advert! I think he could become a very good signing for us, but I expect he will need a few months to settle in and get used to the pace of the premier league.

God had pace in abundance, during his prime. Kompany has pace! Vidic while not pacey is not slow either. Ferdinand doesn't have the p-ace he used to, but he still not slow. Pace matters as a centre back depending on how high a defensive line you keep. If you defend high up the pitch like Arsenal then you need at least one quick mobile centre back. If you defend deep like Villa under MON then Dunne and Collins are more than sufficient. But you saw what happenned when Houllier tried to impliment a high line with Dunne, Warnock and Collins! Great reading of the game can help cover for a lack of pace, but one mistake and your buggered! Thats why pace is so useful, because even if you make a mistake you have a chance to recover the situation. This is why Sol Campbell was so good in his prime, because he had so much pace (for a CB) his mistakes were rarely punished!

I thought that I should point out that MON won two European cups with forest! Also our first season under MON he took the Europa pretty seriously and only fielded a weakend team in the second leg of the 1st knockout round against CSKA because we were 2nd or 3rd in the league at the time so made to obvious decision to priortise the league given that the first team was just starting to show the first signs of jadedness. Then the following season he made the chioce to rest some of the first team (not all) against Rapid Vienna and in fairness the team we put out should've beaten Rapid Vienna, a couple of poor defensive mistakes cost us. The other season MacDonald was in charge! Anyway what do people make of the potential sale of Makoun to Rennes? I reckon if we can maybe do a straight swap for Brahimi that would be acceptable to me!

I watched a few youtube vids of him! Non of them show off any skill, doesn't seem to have any real pace of strength, just a decent finisher, with a decent long shot. However all the vids had him falling over at the slightest touch, provoking opposition players and many other underhanded behaviour. Looks like a nasty piece of work and I don't want him any where near Villa Park.

delfouneso is a player people want out cus its been 4 years since his been in the first team, his still only 21, the last 2 seasons have been disrupted through injury and a loan at burnley where he played right wing. he needs a sustained run of games before he gets written off. It's not just that though is it? He's never shown signs of quality at PL level (the likes of Albrighton and Clark have), and most importantly, he doesn't seem arsed about working hard at all. Without immense effort on his part I cannot see him making enough progress for promotion to the first team proper. According to wiki delfouneso has played 43 matches (nearly half are as a sub) over 4 seasons for the first team, and scored 9 goals. Now when you take into consideration that his longest run in the teams was 4 or 5 games under Houillier thatts actually a pretty good return for an unestablished player. To me he has always shown tohe potential to be a good goalscorer, the problem with him is he hasn't yet caught on to the fact he needs to fight hard on the pitch, like he is wasting for things to open up, rather than making things happen, and finding that space. When he shows a bit of aggression and goes for it he looks dangerous. For me his career is on a knife edge, if he is able to consistently put himself about and really fight to get the ball, and / or find space he could be a fantastic player, if he doesn't he will another Luke Moore, and only show his true capabilities in occasional flashes.

OK trent but I was about whether we should sell Ireland, which is sort of on topic. That Brahimi guy's got some lovely skills, would be happy to see him signed ont the cheap! Hope the speculation is true.

Are you choosing to ignore the fact that our glorious ex manager was choosing to play a ludicrous defensive formation which more or less nullified our team as an attacking threat full stop?? I agree the managers tactics were a massive hinderance, but Gabby still managed 6 goals and 6 assists last season! However Gabby gets, I take 5/6 mil for him, Ireland PLS and has to stay, oh please. Its because Ireland played OK during our worst period in the second half of the season, where everyone else was shite. Whereas Gabby played well when we banked 15 points (of 37) in only 11 games. You guys and your short memories!

Zogbia is worth sticking with, he's only been here a season, and PL might be able to get the best out of him. That being said, i only ever saw flashes of quality when he was at Wigan, so i don't know whether we're waiting for consistent performances, that just aint going to come. As for Ireland, his attitude is questionable, most of the time he just looks like he could take it or leave it, minimal effort, doesnt do enough off the ball, and becomes a passenger, although improved a little towards the end of last season, although thats not difficult as he's done nothing since he joined. He needs to improve big time, or i'd get rid, and i'd consider doing so this summer if a decent offer comes in, chance to rid us of his massive wages, which i think could be better spent elsewhere. This is bang on!

1 goal and 4 assists in 2 seasons, what a great asset he's been!

If Ireland was as good as all you who defend him make out, then City would never have gotton rid of him, the guy has been broken since he collapsed at the end of a game 3 seasons ago! Not been the same since. Not that he was that great anyway! One good season, and that season his team did nothing, and had the worst away record in the league, because their focus was attack.