TB

^^^ <rubs eyes> I think that's one of the most confusing posts I've ever seen on here.

I remember reading a post (might have been on VT, might have elsewhere - cannot remember) about a fan asking Ayew whether he would be staying. The response: "Yes, forever!". That would seem over the top for a player not wanting to be here. Someone not happy at the club and wishing for a move elsewhere might just said: "Yes", or "Yes, for now. Who knows what'll happen in the future." Maybe his selfishness on the pitch isn't about putting himself in the shop window for a move, but a player wanting rather desperately to prove he was a worthwhile signing at Villa? I don't think anyone can question his workrate and commitment, just his finishing and lacking awareness of team-mates providing better options. Yes, he looks disgruntled all the time. But as far as I'm aware, he's never been gruntled. And Bacuna is slated for grinning. Go figure.

genuine Laugh Out Loud moment. Thank you.

That's true, he didn't :-) But I would have thought it was fairly obvious that anyone that says he's been impressed by Kozak whenever he's seen him for u21s or the first team didn't watch his last first team appearance :-D

Well, possibly - or he could be more easily impressed than you are ;-) But he doesn't mention Libor's last first team appearance at all.

Perhaps you should re-read the post you quoted. Especially the " whenever I've seen him for the u21s or first team " bit.

Turns down a move to Glasgow as it's too far. Moves to Athens. Says a lot about his positional ability.

I recall a post on a Villa site about a fan asking him if he would be staying, and he replied: "Yes, forever!". I don't think anyone can fault his work-rate. I don't see a player actively wanting out, but rather a player desperate to prove that he is worth his transfer fee for Villa. I hope he will realize that he's just as valuable to the team assisting as scoring. Yes, he might seem somewhat disgruntled on the pitch, whether Villa is winning or not. But I don't think he's ever been gruntled.

Probably about giving the current squad some time to gel.

I assume you're referring to the "Takes time 2get all right ppl" part. I read that as "it takes time to get all working as it should, folks". Possibly meaning that the new players need time to gel - getting to know each other, their individual preferences, strengths and weaknesses - and of course their individual roles in the manager's tactical set-up.

I just hope that Tony and RDM are in agreement on the time needed to get promoted in a manner to allow us to not only stay up, but be able to improve further. The good Dr clearly wants to see good performances this season, and have backed his manager so far in an impressive manner. But if getting promoted this season is viewed as essential by an impatient owner, he could very well decide to bring in a replacement while there's still a chance of promotion. I just have a feeling that RDM might view gaining promotion in the required manner as a two-year project, and he just might decide at this point in time to throw the pros he's unsure of into into the deep end of the pool to see whether they'll be able to sink or swim. Thus the Luton cup team, and possibly playing Kozak as well. Give'em enough rope to hang themselves with. Some obviously did. And if promotion isn't viewed as absolutely critical this season, it would make sense to play a young goalkeeper like Gollini (I'd imagine Villa would sign someone that Massimo Battara thinks has potential for being a top-class keeper) so he could be ready for the PL when Villa is promoted. The youngsters will still be here after the transfer window is closed, and may then be given a chance to prove themselves. Hopefully, some of them will.

Erm... Trousering the wages he's due according to his contract for another two years without having to worry too much about being selected for 1st 11 or the bench? And then retire?

Oh, some British media might still have published mangled translations of original interviews made to Danish media, possibly with click-bait headlines that didn't relate to the actual content of the article in any meaningful way. Bacuna's alleged Champion's League aspirations springs to mind as well. And some Villa fans would undoubtedly have slated any member of the Villa squad that appeared to think he was larger than the club. Funny, that - it seems to me that generally speaking, anything Villa-related reported in UK media is treated with a healthy dose of scepticism - unless it portrays a current Villa player in a negative manner, that is. An injury-free Okore might have turned out to be good enough for Villa, then again, he might not. He would still be an outspoken Dane though, not suffering fools lightly, and wanting first and foremost enough time on the pitch to be considered for the Danish national team/squad. Which was why he turned down a move to Chelsea in the first place. But Eric Black still would have been Eric Black.

I believe both would be better than Hernandez... (Yes, I know that the famous Ansel Adams photograph is from 1941, but it's still a community with a population of 2,500.)

<rant> I don't understand how the 'foreign/Reilly' signings of last season (when Sherwood told everyone and his brother that he had personally watched the newly signed player for several years before bringing them in, but then did an 'it wasn't me that wanted them, guv, 'onest to God!' job on afterwards) is given that much grief. Even after watching the farce that was Villa in the PL in 2015/2016. Yes, they didn't pull up any trees. Yet, it's generally accepted that players might need a season to adapt to the Premier League. And that's with an established squad/playing style - with a professional manager/coaching team. Petrov had an impressive debut game IIRC, but was then generally criticized for the rest of his debut season. And he didn't even have to cross the Channel to come here. A player moving to another country (not speaking about Veretout,but all new players in general) will encounter a new language, a new league, difference in various aspects of the game - there's so much to adapt to in order to fully bring out the qualities that brought them here in the first place. You'd expect that they'd be welcomed by fellow team members and the manager and coaches, helped to settle in. But no, they apparently didn't. It seems that the senior players, that should guide and help the newcomers, instead did more or less take the piss out of the club and the new arrivals, creating an 'us and them' scenario. (Secret Santa, anyone?) The 'manager' apparently wouldn't give some of his players the time of the day, choosing to play his preferred 'experienced in the league' players instead. Then, the absurd progression of managers in a single season. Sherwood: self-confessed 'I don't really know what I'm doing, but it worked last season. I'll just keep on chopping and changing until I chance upon something that works' combined with an up-and-at-them, boys! attitude. Will certainly work wonderfully with any player unfamiliar with the league, the tactics (what tactics?) and the language. Oh, wait... Interim manager #1: Kevin McD. A wonderful and exasperating Tim Sherwood tribute. Enough said. Funny, I thought he'd be great with young / inexperienced players. Enter, stage right: Remi Garde. Who actually had some managerial experience, and didn't did that bad at Lyon. I remember seeing several comments at various Villa forums after his first few games along the lines of "I can actually see how he has lined up the team - that's a first this season / that formation makes sense / I can see what he's trying to do" etc. Alas, it didn't work out. A divided squad with some senior players that obviously couldn't be arsed, no confidence, a manager trying to be more conservative than he apparently was in France in order to pick up some desperately needed points - but IMO ultimately a manager from the wrong nation at the time. An Italian, Spanish, German, Icelandic, Aussie manager - heck, anyone but a Frenchman would do when a squad apparently was divided into 'us' and 'them' with 'them' being French. I think it just made things worse, just turning the tables to 'now the manager is on their side'. And then, no vote of confidence from the board in the January window, effectively deflating the confidence of the squad and the manager even further. The board had decided that there was no point in trying to evade relegation anymore. A shame - I'd like to see how Garde would have done with a professional, united and dedicated squad like we seem to be building this season (well, apart from some obvious relicts) - but then again he might not have signed the same players as RDM have. Oh well. It wasn't to be. Exit Garde, stage left, And then interim manager #2: Eric Black. Yikes. 37 years of football experience or one year's experience 37 times over? Yes, the new players may have all been more or less shit last season. But all things Villa were shit last season (with the obvious exception of the fans). Some players might still prove to be turds. But I won't tar every new player from last season with the same brush, as it would take a truly gifted and committed new player to shine as in the shambles of last season. Some still might prove to be decent players in the future. </rant>

I think signing Ravel is a toss-of-the-coin signing. He might prove an asset, but he could also turn out to be a disruptive element in a squad that was left in desperate need of confidence after last season. The remaining offenders should be moved on possible, bringing in new ones would be counter-productive. A fully focused Morrison would undoubtedly be an excellent signing. He might have matured living and playing abroad. RDM just might be the right manager for him. But I'd rather not take the chance. It seems that Dr T and RDM are in the process of building a competent squad with dedicated pros - at a rate I didn't think was possible. Hopefully, they'll gel and become an efficient team. I don't want any incoming player to upset the apple cart at this stage.

Well, you did add the 't', hence my light-hearted comment :-) No offense intended. I do enjoy puns, even though some punnery occasionally turn out to be beyond a mere Norwegian. This might just be one of those, if that added 't' was indeed accidental.

Is an added 't' really that much more destructive than the common superfluous 'e', as in Gardener and Clarke? Consonants = fusion, vowels = fission? Who knew. Wrong country for an alphabet bomb, anyhow. But be careful: if it does go off, it could spell disaster.

Expecting strict analysis in a Transfer Speculation thread in the VillaTalk main forum? What's next? Wanting a world class striker? :-)

Possibly. Someone that once could be called world class but isn't being able to perform at the top level anymore. It would have to be a real pro, though. Someone that would want to play to the best of their ability as long as they are able, not merely wanting a final payday. Someone with their football intelligence, skills and physical ability more or less intact, but just not being able to perform at their previous peak level. If any such former top player could be persuaded to play at Championship level for a season (and hopefully at Premier League level the season after that...), a decent sign-on fee might ensure that the club won't break the wage structure. I don't know whether anyone matching the description could be persuaded to join Villa at the Championship level. RDM and his team might know - they are the professionals, after all. I'm fairly confident that Dr Xia will back whatever RDM decides to go for. Drogba? Klose? Probably pie in the sky, but nevertheless possible. It certainly won't be Ronaldinho, though.

?

In the World Cup? Didn't realise he was that old...

Oh, I don't know. There's been several individuals at Villa over the last few years (some still at the club) that could be described as world-class *. *Not as dedicated professionals at a football club, though.

No? I'd say that it's totally possible to be confused without actually feeling confused. Edit: isn't there a difference between feeling an inability to understand and exhibiting an inability to understand?

I wish I could feel as confident. I agree that Ravel Morrison might be a brilliant signing.