BG_Villa_Fan

2 minutes ago, KenjiOgiwara said:

I'm slightly puzzled as to why a club like Celtic would spend £ 10 million on a striker (which is a LOT of money in that league), and while doing so accepting a 40% sell on. Seems like a very high risk deal. 

Even if it's actually a 40% sell on profit I'd say it's a high risk move. 

Same reason why we agreed a buyback clause for Luiz - we wouldn't have got him otherwise. Someone else would have. 

Really like the fixtures. An additional week to prepare. Actual first game at home with the chance to start with 3 points. A lot of winnable home games in the first third of the season. No horrible run of playing top 6 teams in a row. May is tricky, but oh well. Not bad at all. 

I really wouldn't want them to raid Brentford for their players.

Out of the names that have been speculated I'd like Edouard, Rashica, Eze, McKennie, Aarons and maybe an experienced CB if there's anything left from the budget. Perhaps a GK on loan again if Heaton isn't ready.  

28 minutes ago, Don_Simon said:

Eventually, possibly, yes. But right back, right now is right down our list of priorities. 

 

I agree, however, if they get the chance to sign someone really good in these lower priority positions, say Max Aarons, I think they should. Obviously this would chip away from their budget but it's a very fine line chasing their first targets and eventually being unsuccessful like last summer with Phillips and probably others. Realistically we only have one player who's too good to be dropped, every other position can be improved. 

Great appointment. We all know Terry will go be a manager at some point and his name is already mentioned for certain jobs so I see this as not only adding valuable experience but also a very proactive move.

Should Terry leave at some point, and he likely will within the next 12 months, we’ll be well prepared to cope without the need to be in a hurry looking for a replacement.

Living up to the motto for once.

1 hour ago, Phil Silvers said:

Top clubs identify their top targets and make it happen. We identify our top targets, wont stump u the cash and end up with our 2nd or 3rd choice targets. This has to change, we cant be ripped either.

While true we seem to have missed out on a lot of our 1st choice targets last summer ( Webster, Benrahma, Phillips, Tammy/Maupay, maybe Butland? ), I'm not sure how we can expect not to get ripped either. Hopefully they can get more of their main targets this time when there won't be a need to sign so many players. 

Just now, Stevo985 said:

I don't think Ramsdale would be that cheap. Especially for a backup keeper

Yeah, I meant Etheridge would be cheap. Ramsdale will probably go for 20 mil or so. 

I like Ramsdale or Etheridge as a cheap alternative, but a goalkeeper doesn't seem to be very high on the shopping list, so another loan for Reina until Heaton is ready seems shrewd. 

7 hours ago, mikeyp102 said:

I agree Konsa does have a higher ceiling. But then the team could do with an experienced head back there at times. I suppose it’s catch 22

I don't think it's an issue - we can't expect Konsa and Mings to play 38 games each, especially with the congested calendar for next season. Won't be a problem finding 20+ games for each of Konsa and that experienced defender, with 30 or so for Mings and 10 or so for Hause. That'd be perfect. Not sure where it leaves Engels, and no idea if Dean will try 3 at the back again. In any case an experienced center back will help immensely.

1 hour ago, villa4europe said:

that's not moneyball...

sorry but its a pet peeve of mine, its a misused term by the media and on here

moneyball would imply that we do full statistical analysis of players and then we sign them because of one high statistic that we like, we sign a winger because of his successful crossing % and then a striker based on his headers won % and you build your team based on statistics that all click together

it doesn't translate well to football and there's no evidence that villa use it 

Exactly. American sports and especially baseball are much better described using stats, than football ever will, thus making this approach limited. Also unlike in american sports, the vast difference in leagues makes comparing data difficult, not to mention trusting the validity of the data you're getting could be an issue. 

9 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Watching the way Brentford attack really makes me think this is the way Deano would have wanted us to play.

It's how we started, then the fear and eventually the lack of quality to do it seems to have set in/exposed us.

Very fluid, quick, skillfull and with pace.

I'm seriously impressed with them.

I agree, and we played similarly in the championship, but couldn't maintain it in the premier league against better opposition. Players are allowed so much more time on the ball in the championship, defending and pressing is much worse. For all of Brentford's great attacking football their first two goals from last night would have never happened in the premier league. Completely naive from Swansea. 

I loved how Villa tried to play at the start of the season, way more attacking and trying to keep possession, but it all came to an end after the Man U away game. Smith will have to find the balance between that way and the more defensively sound football from after the break in order for the team to progress because sitting back, absorbing pressure and counter attacking clearly isn't his preferred way and isn't exactly fitting for the players we now have. 

20 minutes ago, Only2McInallys said:

I think it is very wise to not openly state you have a large transfer budget before transfer window opens.

Whenever we have had money to spend under Lerner,Xia or now it has become public knowledge and other clubs have taken advantage and we have overpaid for players.

Maybe the 20 m is right or not but if they bid for a player the selling club is not going to be asking exorbitant fees.....maybe we should try it.

I wonder if this standoff between China and UK is going to affect the Chinese owned clubs such as Wolves and WBA ,they might put restrictions on how much money they can invest.

Not an issue for Wolves - they'll buy a couple of world class Mendes clients for a fiver each. 

Edit: double post. 

3 minutes ago, Rob182 said:

Dwight McNeil anyone? Trickery, only 20, would be a bit of a ‘statement’ as European clubs have looked at him, and it’d weaken Burnley.

I heard a lot about us being Prem experience, but I’m not seeing many Prem names being mentioned!

Really like him, lots of potential, still young but with quite a lot of experience already. A good set piece taker too, something we need when Hourihane isn't playing. He'd probably cost in the region of 35-45 mil. I'm not sure we can afford to spend that much, as we have at least 4 or 5 positions to fill. 

1 minute ago, Wezbid said:

It sounds ridiculous but last summer, listening to the TIFO podcasts about what signings Premier League teams needed, I was hoping Suso had half the knowledge some of the people had on that show. It wasn't just chucking well known players forward as suggestions. At times, some suggestions were from teams I'd never even heard of and I don't live completely under a rock. I'm not saying Suso was bad, just that like there's plenty of secret gems/talent out there, there is also the potential of secret gems/talent out there who can identify those players. Here's hoping we can find our own. 

I'm sure Suso has a 100 times more knowledge than these people combined. It's not fair to judge him against suggestions of players whose impact at Aston Villa is just theoretical. Moreover, we don't know the ins and outs of deals - whether said players would ever want to play for Villa, how much they'd cost, what options and clauses would their agents demand for their contracts, etc. 

It sure seems the board thought he wasn't doing a good job, but let's not get carried away with such nonsense. 

26 minutes ago, Tommo_b said:

I do wonder of Bournemouth might appeal that Hawkeye decision or should I say lack of decision. 

Can't see it. 

15 wins is quite optimistic for next season. The only chance would be if Jack stays and we nail the recruiting. I think 45 points should be the realistic target, especially if Jack is sold. 10 points improvement season on season would be a very good achievement. 

Surprised by this. Ruthless and harsh on Suso, he had a very difficult job, but it seems the new owners and Purslow can really be cutthroat. This move shows what their thinking has been throughout the season regarding the team struggles. 

It's really interesting which signings were Suso's and whether he had overruled Smith's or someone else's opinion on players in order to get his targets in. While some players' values may have decreased, I really don't think there were complete flops,  disregarding Drinkwater. Jury's still out on a lot of the new players and I can see the majority of them improving in their second season. I really wouldn't want to see a clearout, a lot of these players can be good squad options for next season and continuity will help the team grow. 

Hopefully they are able to bring someone great to replace him and that his departure wouldn't affect this summer's recruiting. Exciting times. 

4 minutes ago, hippo said:

Just to start an argument - if a £30m bid for Mcginn came in would you take it ?

No. Going rates are incredibly high because of the premier league cash. Decent but not great players like Hojberg are supposedly going for 40 mil. There's no point in selling McGinn for 30-40 mil only to buy a replacement for the same price and start building a team all over again. We're at the stage where we can hopefully build on the base we already have.

Priced out of a move? Works for me. Can't see him going on strike at HIS team. 

11 minutes ago, abdulaziz1 said:

Some are mentioning Ward Prowse or Ings, I'm not sure wether it's real or just jokes, but I don't think we can get players out of teams as Southampton.

I agree with this. This is where our owners could eventually show financial muscle, or not... Realistically two types of player profiles we'll be after are players from relegated clubs and standout championship players. There could be good value there, mind. But hopefully we could make one or two more ambitious signings to show our intent. 

Miracle worker! Well done Deano. This team has character, getting results when it really matters and no doubt will grow because of this experience. Such a likable bunch and in a great position to push on. UTV.

Phew. Never in doubt!