chunkyluke

Pires? Fair call, Pires did win a World Cup after all! After looking it up I was surprised to see all Ade has in the theology case is a Copa Del Ray and Champs League runners up! Man city won the FA Cup when he was at Real, and the the Premier League the year he was at Tottenham first. Hmm that said I see him making more the the 10- odd appearances Pires made for us!

The most decorated player to play for us for a long while! I for one hope he is here, and can see him making the most of it. So come on and announce it!

Maybe Sherwood plans on going ok school with the formation. Like when they played 2 defenders and 5 attackers

Him or adebayor would be good, don't think we should get both.

Elaborate? I think you're being generous there mate. From the Rolan thread, a player in the French league. You're basically saying you don't watch French football here. Can't have changed much in 2 days. Which is it? Any chance you are Delph? What with the sudden changes of mind and all...

Oh my god. Guess what kind of shoes he's wearing. I saw that too!

Agreed. We must have someone lined up... Cheeky swoop for Cahill As good as he is, Cahill benefits a lot from playing alongside JT and the other class defenders Chelsea have. Very good player, don't get me wrong, but I always got the impression he needs real quality next to him.

Because all football fans care about is the money involved. Just had the misfortune of reading this as well. Horrible excuse for journalism. Now I want Adebayor even more and for him to score 20 and prove all the naysayers wrong!

really sums up our situation perfectly. The whole is greater then the sum of its parts as they say. No doubt Benteke and Delph are both good players, but as a whole we are an improved unit. Also the signings we have made will better allow us to implement the football Sherwood wants to play, and that is a good thing. Lambert bought players for Lambert's style, wether you disagree with his style or signings is a moot point. Before Sherwood had to play with the tools given to him. Now he has a team of his design, I appreciate how ballsy it was from him to rip it up and start again.

Liked his little blow up after their second goal, he is not afraid to stick it up his new team mates for piss-poor defending! It's what we need, none of that sulky hands on head bullshit

le source? Béchamel?dont get saucy with me Bernaise...

or off as the case me be...

so essentially he is a midfield Baker?

cissoko or bust I say And Guzan can take corners with his amazing distribution

Think he will be a good signing, but you are right this is getting to be a joke! I would be tempted to tell Lorient and This agent exactly were the can shove said deal and move on to another bright speak striker. Time is money, and this transfer appears to be eating large amounts of both. Ohh well, once he is in (or should I say if) I look forward to seeing him in the jersey, a lot of potential, just hope it's worth the hassle!

He has a heart like a lion, but his defending, to me, always looks a bit last ditch, all or nothing. I think he looks like a defender from yesteryear. Retro, you might say. I thought we were selling him, now your saying he is coming back in a big way? And his value will have risen. They don't make CB's like the used too!

Pretty sure he was a centre half for both PSV and Holland when we signed him and DO'L moved him to LB. I guess that's why he looked like a CB then hahaha

I don't know really. If we do sell him to Burnley I wouldn't mind us letting him go cheap but having a buy back clause in the deal that way it works out for both clubs. That way Burnley can afford him (I don't think they have much to spend anyway?) and should he do really well we could buy him back. I think he needs a full season of consistent football to judge him if i'm honest even if it is championship football. We could loan him but i'm not sure what his contract situation is. I think that Burnley would be a perfect match for him. In so much as that, what with all his concussions and head injuries we might be able to trick him that he is still at Villa. "See Nathan, we aren't selling you. These boys are wearing claret and blue too, so they must be Villa" "Nathan like Villa. Nathan Smash!" (Then goes on to smash something, presumably with his head)

I always thought Bouma looked a little like a left sided CB played as a full back. Very good defensive player but the rest was a bit of a struggle for him. That said he was a very good player, and the last very good player we have had in that position.

Wasn't that a free kick from near the half way line?He scored from a corner in the away game vs them. We scored from a corner v Everton too. But I think the reason we don't score many from set pieces is we haven't had a set piece specialist since Young. The way he whipped the ball in was amazing. It was no coincidence we scored the most set pieces in the league one season. Could Gill be the answer? Staying on topic. Welcome to Villa. Just to clarify, is this done deal? Medical happened or happening? Sorry got a bit distracted by goals, targets and French vs English league banter. I'm Jonesing for another offical site welcome post!

He has a heart like a lion, but his defending, to me, always looks a bit last ditch, all or nothing. I think he looks like a defender from yesteryear. Retro, you might say. I thought we were selling him, now your saying he is coming back in a big way?

Depends what we are looking for. For a backup player I have my doubts we could find better for the price we would get. However if our goal is to invest on top of the money generated from his sale for someone who will get/push for a 1st team spot more then Baker then it's not a decent call. If we keep Senderos and he stays fit then his skill and experience make for a great back up CB, he bossed it for us when fit and playing. His gamesmanship with Baleotelli against the pool was great, if not Illegal. Also brought the best out of Baker, and I reckon would do similar to other 2nd choice players.

This is what it's all about. We are talking about buying and investing in humans. The mental aspect can make or break a player. Look at Falcao, look at Torres. Undeniably great players who for whatever reason didn't make the same impact with a change of scenery. Different surrounds, different tactics and playing systems, different managerial styles, all these and more play a part. At the end of the day we are just gambling. The clubs job is to make the most educated gambles, weighing up risk vs rewards at any given moment. I think for the money we are spending the risk vs rewards scenario here is in our favour.

Ye, I thought he looked good in that role during the early pre-season games. Plays some lovely little through balls All well and good, but look who they went too... (I do love Gabby even if he can't score in a monkey brothel with a banana hanging out his fly)