roadoftrinity

I rate Andy Carroll 15-20 goals a season.

Good man con

Andy Carroll struggles to play 20 games a season.

I had doubts when I turned up to Newcastle at home and he was playing 3/5 at the back again. Ridiculous how long he stuck with that formation.

Anyway, all is looking good now.

Goodness, If i were Benteke and i'd been told by Spurs to hand in a transfer request (speculation i know) and then they don't bid for me i'd be damn pissed at Spurs!

Most sensible people would feel like this too, I hope we keep Benteke, he has a storming season again and we sell him to PSG/Real for £40m. he's damaged that bond he had but i wouldn't boo him, don't think i've ever boo'd a player in a villa shirt. Not even Hutton/Ireland.

Why would you have booed Hutton?

At least he's had the balls to hand in a transfer request.

Then again, probably just means his loyalty bonus is very low.

Still doesnt fit into what we want to do.

Any direct quotes yet?

Not yet but there will be.

I told you he would be off.

Aren't you great.

Toon set to battle it out with Fulham for 5 million Darren Bent.

Wow. That is truly a bargain. Grant Holt just signed for Wigan for a reported 4 million pound fee. Kone a 29 year old striker with 1 season Premier League experience signing for Everton for 5 million. Yet a regular English player who scores frequently and we can only manage 5 million.

Astounds me really.

Holt went for 2 million.

Anyway, 6 million is a bargain for Bent, so much so there has to be a reason there isn't more interest, either we want more than is been reported or there are some expensive contract issues to sort out or probably both.

I think he will go and I think he will go for around £20m, not what people want to hear or want to believe but that is what I think will happen.

Surely that's the going rate if that's the actual sum we receive as every transfer fee reported you claim is around 25% less if not more.

Woodytom on the wind-up again I see.

Gardner is clearly one of the brightest prospects we've ever had to come through our academy - at that level he was absolutely exceptional and that's a fact.

The problem however, is his ability to make the step up. He hasn't shown much if anything of note in his first team appearances and he's been really unlucky with injuries.

The jury is still out and lets hope he fulfills the potential he has.

He hasn't performed in the first team but he is clearly one of the brightest talents? I hope your right but I've seen nothing to suggest it. In the first team games that Gardner has played he's shown the same amount of potential as Johnathon Hogg. I also spoke to a Coventry fan who said he was "ok".

Clark is a weird one. I think he has a lot of nice features about him but a lot of negative ones as well.

A bit like a house with a conservatory and a north facing garden?

I like that!!

MON aas not involved in either contract. Houllier gave Bannan his deal and Delphonseo's was given just after McLeish took charge.

I think people saying No to him is a bit ridiculous. He was a regular for the league winner and runner-up in last 2 seasons and we have talented youngsters but just survived relegation.

For right wages it is a no brainer

This!

But we have promising younger options for the defensive midfield berth in Sylla and Delph.

We do, but how many games this season have been needed an experienced head in the last 10 minutes to put their foot on the ball and slow play down.

I think people saying No to him is a bit ridiculous. He was a regular for the league winner and runner-up in last 2 seasons and we have talented youngsters but just survived relegation.

For right wages it is a no brainer

This!

With Milner also told he's surplus to Man City requirements wouldn't you rather Little Jimmy instead?

Has he been told that?

Would love Barry back, exactly the player we need but wages will be to much unless he wants to take a massive pay cut to rejoin. People say about not breaking up our midfield 3? Delph is hardly likely to be fit for a season and Barry is far better than Westwood.

If we did sign Barry he would have forced his way into our team within weeks anyway.

Don't forget if we sell him for 6 million we will probably have to pay him a 1 million loyalty bonus, at least, I know that Sidwell had 200k when he left, to go with his 1.5 million signing on fee and 37k a week wages.

Express and Star also had an artical sources at Villa had confirmed there was nothing in this.

Do you think they'd really go out and say "Of course we're trying to buy Belhanda"?

Well we live with a generation that believes everything thats in the papers, so i guess its not a shock that they also believe the likes of Kendrick

How is it believing everything? It's using a bit of intelligence. Both local papers, who do have sources at Villa, have ran stories saying sources at Villa have confirmed there is nothing in this link. So I think it's safe to say there is nothing likely to happen here.

Express and Star also had an artical sources at Villa had confirmed there was nothing in this.

Clark's first full season as first choice centre half which he was playing behind an in experienced midfield and at times playing in a ridiculous 3 at the back formation.

At the moment Baker does look at the better centre back prospect, but Clark still has time on his side so would be good to get him on a new contract.

On another note, it amazes me how many people on here think Cahill is such a fantastic defender. Nearly every time I've seen him play for Bolton, Cheslea and England I've though he was average at best, and that's been generous.

For Especially Hutton, lord knows who would want him. He comes back from a loan spell having played in a team that gets relegated and calls it a success. Am I missing something entirely? Does he consider just playing a football a success?

Maybe he was just happy to play football. Hutton to be fair was unfortunate as he had a poor first season at Villa, but then wasnt even given one game to try and impress Lambert.

Give him a free transfer and we should be able to get rid of him.

Villa have confirmed the talks now via twitter

Wonga wasn't a concern for Cisse last season though was it?

Anyway, lets hope he manages to force a move and then we can shift Bent.

He's exactly what Arsene Wenger doesn't buy. An English footballer that struggles to play football.

Theo Walcott?

We are still looking for a shirt sponser, a friend works in marketing and was contacted two weeks ago about the possibility of his company been the shirt sponser so I'm sure the are still contacting lots of companies.

If his contract runs out at the end of the season, why is he on loan and not just signed as he won't be going back to Spurs.

Indicates to me that Spurs have some way of extending his contract if they wish.