bobzy

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.

Doesn't seem to me that James Nursey does anything but churn out the same vague cliches we have been hearing all season.

 

What Lambert needs to understand (Lerner and Lambert as well - I'm sure they are all clever enough to get this) is that while Villa are churning out such dreadful football at home, in front of the 30,000+ people who are loyal enough to turn up to watch it 19 times a year, they are going to get criticised. I have never been a supporter of booing your side but I really do understand why people are doing it now. The football we have seen is an insult to the fans.

 

So all these soft focus words will have nil impact. Only starting to play more attractive, crowd-pleasing football will do that.

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.

But we do play Football Manager, so we know he's awesome.

Yep think it has to be signing a goal scorer (probably bent) instead of Heskey. Think that would have got us top four and who knows what would've happened then

In a different timescale, but I seem to remember us being interested in signing Ruud Van Nistelrooy from PSV but settled on JPA instead.

Didn't we also bid for Falcao under MON in 2008 or something?

Just imagine...

Yeah, I'm not even sure ANY of the ball was over the line...

CONTROVERSY!

O'Brien once again makes a good run down the right, puts in a deep cross to the back stick and McKirdy (again) bundles it home...

...but wait!  The linesman has flagged saying the ball had gone out before O'Brien crossed it.

It hadn't

Agreeing with Bunnski, Ryan Kent I think his name is.  Been a handful all half.