bobzy

Which is why he should wear **** shinpads ;P

 

I've never, ever, ever seen Emile Heskey show any sort of technical ability as per Holt's cute flick against Liverpool. Creating that sort of space for someone to run into alone is valuable enough. I was impressed because I thought he'd be much more immobile.

I love the pointless stat quoting by the way. Did you see that Holt had more touches, won more tackles and committed less fouls than Gabby did against Liverpool?

Not sure they're pointless stats. He's a striker, we need him to be involved, hold up the ball and be a threat. He kept the ball 5 times and won 1 header.

 

He attempted more passes, had more touches and won more headers than Agbonlahor.  Who would you rather have in the side?

I've never, ever, ever seen Emile Heskey show any sort of technical ability as per Holt's cute flick against Liverpool.  Creating that sort of space for someone to run into alone is valuable enough.  I was impressed because I thought he'd be much more immobile.

I love the pointless stat quoting by the way.  Did you see that Holt had more touches, won more tackles and committed less fouls than Gabby did against Liverpool?

Impressed by his work rate and touch on the ball - thought he was more of a lump than that.  Good cameo performance, promising.

Hoolahan (2m tops) or a back up ... the mind boggles as to which creative/number 10 could be cheaper than that

 

#ambitious

I'm not sure anyone has ever said we have a maximum of 2 million to spend - we're just unlikely to pay more than that for a 31 year old?

#staynegative

Although it's 2 domestic loans innit.

But yeah, I think Holt was loaned from Wigan.  Do they play in the Championship still?

We need to end this dirge in the transfer speculation thread lads.   Besides....

...WHO'S COMING NEXT?

Gabby as a genuine winger?

 

 

Now we've got the left hand side sorted, and the back up to Benteke, we just need that one who can play in the hole......

we need more than that. Kea,westwood and sylla all need replacing

 

I'm not so sure.

 

I think some or all of those three could be much better in a real midfield.

Their problem is they're all usually played together (or with Dekph) and they all play the same position.

 

With a real AM in there I think all of them would be better.

 

Basically I wouldn't want to write any of them off yet.

 

We just need a creative central midfielder.  It would solve so many problems.  Delph can then play the engine role that he's clearly suited to and Westwood can sit back and distribute sensibly.

A world-beating midfield it ain't, but it has the right components in the right places and would have proper balance.

 

As I typed, we've signed Bertrand on loan...he's not what you call an experienced head, but a very good player to have got hold of.

If he can continue like this, I will be happy to climb down from my position and admit I was wrong about part of my thinking.

And before anyone says "not experienced?! He's played 50 times for Chelsea" just remember, Clark and Baker have played more than that for us. Westwood can't be far from that number either, yet they're considered "kids"

 

Probably played another 150 games or so on loan though...

Great signing. I'd like to see a back 4 of Lowton, Vlaar, Clark and Bertrand, with Bacuna infront of Lowton and rotating with him. That's not a bad defence there.

With Okore to come back as well, who seems to have the pace that the others lack.  Decent.

Well we can't sign any more players on loan now, so whoever is next will be coming permanently. Fingers crossed for somebody decent further up the pitch.

We can't sign any more players on loan domestically now.  We could still bring in foreign players.

 

Oh and the defence has improved this season, we don’t have the worst and haven’t been given a hammering.

 

It has certainly improved - I think as a result of the more defensive, possession light play. It comes to something when a 0-4 loss isn't a 'hammering' anymore....

 

Must've missed that 4-0 league defeat.  Remind me when it happened?

I'm glad that our 2 signings so far have been loanees. You'd like to think Lambert is saving his pot of money (no matter how small) for that elusive number 10.

And also the fact that there's very little value around in January.  Summer is the time to spend a decent amount - it all makes sense really.

Glad to have him on board but if there is no option to buy it will be very disappointing.

Always look for the negatives lads; always look for the negatives.

Loved that mask/blood photo of him.  Would not mess.

Downing and Carroll basically leveled out the ridiculous Torres fee, though.  Spurs signings arguably covered by the Bale signing (and Levy having an infamously tight wage control over the club).  These clubs both have more commercial streams than Villa as well - especially Liverpool.

Chelsea/Man City/Man Utd can make poor signing after poor signing and simply gloss over it by pumping more money into another signing.  There's just no recompense for their mistakes.  Didn't work out?  We'll throw another £30m at the problem!  It's not reality - not at all.  The Matic signing underpins this.  "Sold" for £5m - bought back for £21m.  Money isn't an issue.

We simply can't operate on this footing, and neither can most clubs in the league.

Apparently.  Twitter rumours say we're "definitely" signing one player - various other tweets saying we're "actually signing 2" players.

Looks like a few tweets going round saying that we're in for a CB and a CM tomorrow.

TWO signings?  Surely not...

 

The problem is that we seem to want it all - not to be in a relegation battle, to sign players, to play beautiful football and to have a sustainable club.  The reality is that the financial trimming means that we simply can't do this and have to prioritise.  In my opinion;

 

1. Sustainability

2. Survival

3. Additions

4. Beautiful football

 

It's just an added bonus to have a team playing wonderful, easy on the eye stuff.  I can put up with a couple of seasons of dross to see a long-term benefit.  This summer is huge though, no doubt about it.

 

Did we play good football & pick up points between Feb & May last season?

 

Yes we did.  I don't really understand what point you're making here?

 

Getting sick of reading the abuse this young lad gets from Villa fans. I think he's doing just fine, is brave as they come and if he gets a run with Vlaar we'll see just how much potential Nathan has. Give the kid a break.

 

Exactly! Problem is the whole team are doing. "just fine".

 

Yeah, Young was an expensive risk that worked out pretty wonderfully.