Foxy1

I really, really want to like Fabian Delph. I even got his name on the back of last season's away shirt. But he was poor last season, even before he got injured. He could hardly make a forward pass without it being intercepted.

You've hit the nail on the head - we all WANTED Delph to be good ....the exotic name, the YouTube clips, the story of us nicking him ahead of Utd

Sadly the reality none of us want to face is that he's not good enough

Means nothing, Kendrick will only release exclusives to his paper first and even then only with the club's permission.

Seems like we are signing a lot of players very quickly.

Um, no, it doesn't! We've signed one player who was on a pre-contract agreed under McLeish and two more scouted by Lambert. Need a few more in before your statement stands true.

Here's hoping we have good news next week.

No, we really are.

Would like to know your definition of quick.

At this rate Lambert will be enjoying deadline day with his feet up, a cigar and a shit eating grin.

Sorry :shock:

A what?

(1) n. A shit eating grin is a very wide and, to the outside observer, stupid looking grin, usually showing smugness, self-satisfaction, or inner humor.

At this rate Lambert will be enjoying deadline day with his feet up, a cigar and a shit eating grin.

Unfortunately it doesn't work like it does in Fifa or Football Manager. After the last couple of seasons we are not the same prospect we once were to big players and marquee signings.

I wouldn't totally rule out a player around the £8-10million mark but I'm not holding my breath. At this point in time we're just not as desirable as we once were. It's going to take steady progress to get back up to those standards. For now it seems we're going to concentrate on value for money signings with a more controlled wage structure and slowly build over the next couple of seasons.

Don't think its down to desirability, it's down to our transfer strategy which appears to be focused on finding value and potential. It's the right strategy IMO.

I agree it will be interesting to see if we sign anyone in the £8-12m bracket. Perhaps depends upon us shipping out a couple of the high earners first.

His brother is on Twitter - says the fee is very different to what is being reported. Won't say what it is though.

Oh for the days when I used to get up and check teletext for latest transfer news!

Don't see the problem with Twitter, just don't follow idiots, simples. It is a great way of engaging the reliable journos and getting latest news from those sources.

Otherwise stop obsessing about transfers and enjoy the summer (weather permitting)

Chris Herd is already a very accomplished footballer and a versatile player.

I worry for him slightly in that there can be a tendency for managers who have a player like him, to use them as an impact super sub.

After sixty minutes if there was a problem in the midfield or defence you could slot Herd in there off the bench and he'd do well.

So, because of that, players like him (Milner is another one) can become frustrated by their first team regularity and/or end up playing in their weakest position and not really showcasing their full potential.

In my opinion, Herds' best position is defensive midfield. He has a great engine and can clear up and intercept well whilst possessing the intelligence, ball control and pass accuracy to begin a move.

He does love to dive in and sometimes that can result in him giving silly fouls away, for this reason I wouldn't play him too far back in fear of conceding free-kicks and penalties.

Just the 8 pints?

How could I forget Zat Knight? Christ.

I was also going to say 'How could I forget Nicky Shorey?' but, you know...

A lot players in the MON era got stick - Knight, Harewood, Heskey.

However Nicky Shorey was the shittest of the lot IMO. Conference player.

There have been so many.

Some qualify because of their relatively small transfer fee and some because of their sell on fee and some for both.

But just based solely on talent, and unfortunately we did not get to experience it for very long, for me it has to be Luc Nilis.

Don't be ridiculous Bernard!

My dad was a huge fan and grew up down the road from VP. My mom's family are from Solihull and also follow the Villa ....so its very much in the blood. The thought of supporting anyone else is preposterous.

Dad took me to my first game in 1983. We got battered 6-2 by the Gooners, I knew then it would not be an easy road!

Sadly my dad passed away when I was still young, I recently researched our family history and found that my ancestors lived right in the centre of Brum from the mid 19th Century. I like to think some of them will have been going to VP from the very beginning and during our glory years at the turn of the century.

In terms of how much, enough to satisfy Lamber that coming here was going to be worthwhile in terms of a challenge he could have a fair crack at succeeding in

I dunno so much. I am starting to think he wasn't going to be at Norwich very much longer anyway.....than the villa job came along - which he viewed as a marginally better prospect than Norwich without Grant Holt.

£10m net spend tops.

Final answer? You seemed pretty set on £9m in you opening post ...10 would be too obvious, right?

Jesus a stalker !

I initially said £9m - and Iam now saying £10m tops - in the post above i explained my counter arguement to 'Lambert wouldn't come without a big budget' theory

Youre allowed more than one go - and can your mind if you wish

Just on the wind up mate!

I reckon you only started this so that Richard would show his cards ...which of course he didn't.

Anyway I think around £15m though I get the sense that committed wages / ongoing cost is more of a priority, so who knows there could be another Bent like signing.

In terms of how much, enough to satisfy Lamber that coming here was going to be worthwhile in terms of a challenge he could have a fair crack at succeeding in

I dunno so much. I am starting to think he wasn't going to be at Norwich very much longer anyway.....than the villa job came along - which he viewed as a marginally better prospect than Norwich without Grant Holt.

£10m net spend tops.

Final answer? You seemed pretty set on £9m in you opening post ...10 would be too obvious, right?

Top post Moose. Hopefully people will understand now.

Can I just say hats off to Lerner

I said earlier that he had done 2 of the three things I wanted this summer, now I find that the 3rd is also in place AND HOW!

Someone let Richard know his account has been hacked by someone overly excited

Go on MM stick his moby number on here, I dare you!

666

Well he put us through 12 months of hell, Satan has his calls forwarded on.

Go on MM stick his moby number on here, I dare you!

We have a squad who's whole is considerably less than the sum of its wages ...it's anti-moneyball if you will

However a new manager could come in and buy another Zoggy, Ireland etc for 60k a week 4 yr contract. He then under performs, what do you do?

Brilliant tribute to Heskey by Guardian's Barney Ronay

Could there be some classic psychology at play here...

Rather like the limited offer principle. As in when there is a threat that a reasonably attractive offer might be withdrawn, even if it is not the initially preferred offer it becomes exponentially more attractive due the fear of missing out.

So, I think most people's initial reactions were to feel a bit surprised, not quite sure about the idea of OGS. I know those were my reactions. Then it might have grown on a few of us, but as soon as it seems that the possibility might be fading, the deal might be withdrawn... we're all desperate for him to come, convinced that THIS is the deal we need to make. No other option could possibly be as good. We mustn't miss out!

And of course, I feel the same.

What I'm wondering is... are the club doing this on purpose? :shock:

You're right mate it's messing with my head ...I'm even waking at night thinking about ....damn human psychology

Call me crazy but I wouldn't take Guardiola over OGS right now never mind Lambert!

Ole is like the girl you always admired from afar ...now you've been on a first date and you realise (s)he's the one!!

David Unsworth.....oh, wait :?

Saw him in what I believe was his only reserve game at Filbert Street. Dull game about which I remember almost nothing else, though.

Tick a boo son, can't be beaten surely?

I saw Simon Stainrod score in one of my first visits to VP as a nipper.

Was also there for 'fat Dave' Ginolas big reveal.

And I've seen Adam Rachel in goal against Tamworth, his home town club (and mine)

I wish Emile all the best, he's always given his best its just unfortunate that his best was rarely good enough.

Not his fault that MON decided he was worth £60k per week.

My favourite memory is his goal away to Wolves, a truly magnificent header that left you wondering why he couldn't reproduce such moments.