Pez1974

I thought we had a price agreed when he signed on loan? At the time we didn't look like getting promoted so I would expect it to be pretty low. Of course there could have been a championship price and a PL price.

Out of the players we know are leaving (incl Richards, Bunn, de Laet on top of Hutts, Jedi, Tommy & Albert), and the loan players we've had this season (Incl. Moreira and Bolasie) - I could see this being wages of between £20m - £25m off our wage bill from this season. Take off this some increases for promotion, I reckon we could still sign 5 or 6 very good PL players without increasing our wage bill on last season's - which was quite high for a championship club but very low for a premier league club. I'm sure sponsorships will increase and we'll get a lot of TV time this year meaning more income. We might need to go big on a striker, but offset Hause (£2m? and £20k pw?) and I think we are looking pretty good budget wise. I know we need more than 5 or 6 new players; its the extra income we will have this season (£100m?) to pay transfers and the 3 or 4 extra players.

Add Richards, Bunn, de Last and we'll be at around £200k a week. £10m a season. Now need to sell a few of the fringe/loaned out players.

If Ashley Westwood can have a good season in the Premier, so can this guy. However, I expect us to buy a DCM and play them and the Super J's so Conor and (I expect) Whelan to be on the bench a lot.

Hopefully Tom Carroll ain't one of the 3 he is counting.

100% the risk you take. But both Laursen and the Good Lord came in at pretty low transfer fees, which I guess were down to their injury record. Players are insured. If you have a poor injury record, the insurance costs increase so the players value decreases. I think!

So would I. When he's fit. And I think thats the issue. We've had a great 4 months, but Bournemouth had had a very poor 4 years from him. No one's fault.

Agreed. But unless they want him to stay, they could lose out for the extra £5m and end up keeping a player they don't need, presumably costing them not too far off that amount a year in wages, plus the transfer fee. I doesn't seem the guy to make a huge fuss but if their new kid makes a mistake or 2, Tyrone being there could seriously undermine him nd their investment. I hope we've got in his ear before he returns and he just tells them he wants to come here. I hope!

Don't forget player power nowadays. If Mings wants to come here, he can pretty make it happen. And if they've signed his replacement for £13m, I would expect us to put a ceiling on the deal of below that. As good as he's been for 4 months, his injury record over recent years is awful, and that affects his value

Andy Carroll is available on a free. He's only 30. Any takers? Didn't think so.

This 100%. I haven't seen anyone suggest him as a coach , thank McGrath.

Cardiff need a striker. As do Huddersfield. And Fulham when Mitrovic does one. So do West Brom. And Stoke. I still think Staff United may sign him, but we need to set a deadline. Otherwise, perhaps a free transfer to make sure we get his wages put of the club.

I know what you are saying but I wouldn't be adverse to someone like Whelan taking a coaching role; or Gareth Barry. Deano and O'Kelly have tonnes of experience; sometimes you need a fresh voice. Fergus changed his assistant regularly- albeit for a lot of experience!

He's a very good player. But here is why he is loved and we want him. Just a good guy.

I would put Hause in as a LB, as I feel he will be emergency cover at CB only. I would give Whelan a one year deal. He might be what we need in he last 20 minutes in a lot of games next season. The other out of contracts can go, along with those mentioned in the opening post. Nyland; Thor; Taylor; Lansbury; Kodija; and Adomah can all go too. Plus Bree if Deano isn't convinced. We won't shift them all but as many as possible please!

This guy sounds like a thoroughly decent and sensible fella. Doesn't get over excited, but gets that the fans are important and the engagement achieved over recent months is critical in the future. Both were quick to praise others when applicable (Potato/Cabbage man; Suso; etc) and seemed thoroughly in control. I feel we're lucky to have him.

Grateful for his goals last season and his hard work. He won't be good enough for the prem, so we should thank him and help him move on.

Not for me. Celebrate like that when winning the league or the European cup. Nothing else.

Confused about the desperate need for a LB. Wouldn't Hause be that option? He did well for a few games at CB and is OK as cover there but we're going to have to tighten up defensively and I think he's a good option. Need to sort out Mings and the other defensive options quickly as they need to get game time all preseason.

Listening to a lot of previews and reviews, Dean Smith seems universally popular and respected and so many neutrals have an affinity for him. He is an asset to this football club, and no matter what the next season or 2 (or 3 or 4!) may bring, his position as manager should be fixed.

Given we may need to be a bit more solid next season, and try and keep the better players in the squad, I can see him on the bench a lot for RB/RW cover.

Watched the game in a bar in Turkey with a load of non-villa fans. It's all inclusive and I was trashed. How'd we do?

Yep, me too. I needed a piss and got up to run to the can and nearly broke an ankle turning back!

The squad are clearly all desperate to go up - but some seem more desperate than others. Jack the most, but Tyrone pretty close. I think he'd love to sign and spend the rest of his career here being successful.

We 100% need to be on top of this.... We meet Man City's asking price. We offer him massive wages. We offer him a long term contract. We offer him the club captaincy back. We offer him whatever he wants. Then we pull out at the last minute, because he failed a medical. We couldn't find a backbone or a heart. word removed.