penguin

My company sends me on planes to places all the time, I just do as I'm told. I don't start threatening to effectively go on strike, they'd telle where to go. Eh? What about if your company told you they'd let you move to another company if they receive X amount (assuming you're tied in to a contract). A superior company with more avenues for progression and higher wages then approach your company for you with the amount X that had been previously agreed, for your company to then say no actually we want more than that after first accepting the bid and allowing you to travel there. Would you not feel wronged? I know I would.

Just had a look at the free agents and there are some interesting names there who can play CM: Cambiasso, Aquilani, Muntari and Gourcuff who plays attacking mid. Any of those you'd take?

£2M? Joke bid from a joke of a club.

Not for the price being touted for him, I think even the £8M Blackburn paid for him was a lot. He's never played top flight football has he?

Apprehensive myself at calling him proven, only had one season at the top level and there have been plenty of one season wonders. I think it's also worth mentioning that QPR were a complete anomaly in terms of attacking threat compared to other bottom, even mid table teams; 7th most chances created (compared to us at 19th)& the 5th most shots in the league. Austin himself had the second highest shots per game in the league, behind Aguero. I'm far from convinced that he'd be able to recreate what he did last season with us, also £15M for someone on the last year of his contract with a dodgy knee seems very steep.

More this goes on the more I want him. The guy whilst having a screw loose is a natural goal scorer, he'd be one of if not our best player and he strikes me as the kind of guy that loves been the centre of attention and being a fan favourite which I could imagine quickly happening once he bags a few. Much like Sherwood who many warmed to very quickly, he might be a bit of an arse but he'd be our arse. And if we get him on a one year loan deal or what not and he doesn't perform, there have been more costly gambles.

Because we don't have a bottomless pit of money and there are other areas we need to strengthen. We've just had the worst goal scoring season in the history of the club and lost our best goal scorer. Signing attacking players has to be the priority at the moment otherwise we are getting relegated. I am aware of this. Don't really see how this relates to what I've posted. I'm assuming the post I quoted was referring to the posts about whether it was £ or €, value for money is definitely an important part of the game now esepcially with FFP. Hence why there is so much discussion about the prices we are paying for players. Because we don't have a bottomless pit of money and there are other areas we need to strengthen. None of us know what the budget is. No but it is fairly clear it isn't a bottomless pit so what we spend and getting value is important. Exactly.

Because we don't have a bottomless pit of money and there are other areas we need to strengthen.

I see him mentioned a lot but is Praet or similar really a priority? We already have Gil and Grealish to play attacking midfield.

It was Neymar he had in his pocket in the Copa America. Huge season for him, I really hope he adjusts as there is obviously potential there for him to be a real midfield destroyer for us.

It's 12 million POUNDs though, not Euro. I'd be surprised if that was the case although he'd still be cheaper than Townsend. Guess we'll see if/when it's completed, if it's disclosed.

Significant upgrade on Weimann and pretty much half the reported fee for Townsend, with additional versatility. Good business.

I like Baker and he's willingness to put his head on absolutely anything, he's fine as a squad player but I'm not convinced the footballing intelligence is there to improve much more. I wouldn't be too gutted if he went, especially if it meant we bring in a quality CB.

Because they are both from Ghana so must be similar? Gyan wasn't that bad either, just prefers being the huge fish in small ponds picking up big wages. His goal scoring record for Ghana is very impressive.

No offense but this is bullshit. You can't say Palace is a step up from us due to the fact they finished a few places above us in the league. They aren't in Europe and have about as much chance of us of winning a cup. If the wages being paid were the same, although I'd actual imagine given our superior revenue we could pay more, then as a player you have the choice of playing in front of potentially 40k+ fans in a cracking stadium that is Villa Park or in front of 20 odd k in the shit hole that is Selhurst Park. You have chance to play in front of thousands of away fans every week or a few hundred. Most importantly though you have the chance to play for still one of the most decorated clubs in this country with a history better than all but a handful of clubs or for Crystal Palace whose history you could write on the back of a stamp and in terms of major trophies have won **** all. The size of clubs don't compare. A couple of seasons of them finishing above us doesn't even start to equal that out. In fact that could be said for a lot of clubs we have in terms of league position fallen behind over the last 4 seasons. I think you've miss understood what I've said, I didn't say Palace are a bigger club. They clearly aren't. But I think we as fans place a lot more emphasis on history, especially when the achievements do date back some, than the players do. Clubs like us and Palace are just stepping stones and I know who my money's going to be on finishing higher the next season or two (it ain't us) hence why I qualified the step down to be "at the moment".

I'd love Bolasie, but as sad as it is to say why on earth would he come here? We are a step down from Palace at the moment.

It's almost as if the Villa fan base is composed of a number of different people with different opinions!

I'm not Guzans number one fan but getting in a replacement GK would be right down my list of priorities. A striker, CM and a CB all a lot more urgent IMO.

Was down as Aston Villa U21s on Bet365.

I'd love that to be the case as in my eyes there is no chance they are dislodging any of the current top 4.

Think we'll have a striker in before next week, probably against the general consensus but I hope it's not Austin.

It certainly is. Time to make the team his own so to speak.

Hardly **** Nostradamus-esque to predict that losing our two best players will affect us. But I'm glad some internet points are more important to you than the team you 'support'. Idiot.

I think they're fair questions to ask. Personally whilst I think he is a great player I don't feel I place him on the same level of brilliance as some others. On his day he is, unquestionably, absolutely brilliant but as Mark has pointed out we the whole team was set-up to maximise his talent. The test of just how good he is, will be when he is playing at the highest level with a team consistently challenging to win things, which makes it even more frustrating that he's moving to Liverpool where he won't be doing this.