Indigo

Don't really agree with this growing notion that Konsa is a better player than Tuanzebe. Even with Axel's truncated at best season Konsa had maybe a handful of genuinely good games himself and I'd say it was clear who the better was in the Championship. Konsa is a good player with good potential but I'm definitely with anyone that reckons we could do with a more reliable option at CB. It just seems it's a ways down the list of priorities at the moment going off of the rumour mill.

Yeah I'm with you on this, in theory it would be great to have 3 playmakers playing in front of McGinn and Luiz but in reality we would regularly get absolutely battered and completely overran. For me if we're to assume that Jack will largely be playing off the left again then the winger on the other side should be one that's more built around pace and directness to offer a bit more balance to the attack. The former is something Smith has identified us lacking as well and I don't think a lot of these suggestions really take that into account. It doesn't even necessarily have to be some big lump in midfield but we just need someone with a bit of presence to play in the 8. Douglas Luiz is very much a modern number 6 and that's where he should play as he's flourished there of late and as far as I'm aware was always the position he was deemed most comfortable in moving forward in his career, but as great as both him and McGinn are they'll get overrun in midfield (as was often the case last season) if we don't get another body in there that has a bit of presence/physicality about him. It seems like that's what Smith and co. are trying to address which is encouraging to hear, doesn't mean it has to be some plodder but I think a lot of folk are being very fanciful by thinking shoe-horning a load of creative players in will solidify our position much more this season. Who knows on names but if I'm dreaming I'd love Martinez, a winger, striker/winger, CM and a CB to come in. Can't imagine we'll see that many incomings though.

Think people are really underappreciating the severity of Heaton's injury combined with his age and history. We have too many keepers but none of the rest of them are good enough so it definitely makes sense to get one in. If Martinez is as good as his performances last season suggested then given his age that could *touches wood** be our goalkeeping situation finally sorted and for years to come at that. * insert appropriate gif

Objectively this is a mad amount of money to be paying for him, especially when compared to the pedigree of the only "Championship" players (Ake and Sissoko don't even really count given they were just relegated and hadn't even played in the league) more expensive than him. I'm sure Brentford are laughing their heads off at us...again. That said if the ends justify the means then I really don't care how much any of our signings cost in all honesty and never have. He had a blinding season last year, can play across the front line if necessary and you'd think has the physical capabilities to fit into the league which is one less thing to worry about when it comes to him adapting to this level. If he can score enough to help us consolidate our position and the fee doesn't hinder other signings being made then **** it why not.

Can't wait until the season starts and we can get back to despairing after getting battered by Southampton instead of the absolute monotony of every single transfer window and all it entails.

King would be a perfectly fine signing, the hysteria in here is wild. He can play in several forward positions and has the pace and power that we sorely lack in wide areas (where you would presume he'd predominantly play in). It'd be extremely underwhelming if he were to be our only attacking signing but despite the widespread derision for those in charge of recruitment I'd be stunned if that were the case. The reality is that this season has to be about solidifying ourselves, and a signing like King as "boring" as it is would go at least some way towards that given he's generally put up good numbers at this level and is an upgrade on what we currently have in the squad. If we were to get in 5/6 signings in total and he's the most disappointing of them I think we could be in for a more stress-free season and that'll do me fine.

I like Konsa and have no doubt that he'll be at the necessary standard before long, but definitely agree with you. Honestly think that had Antonio put that chance away on the final day and we went down that there'd be a very different general consensus on him (not that it would be correct either, mind). I'm not necessarily worried by the idea of going into the season with him partnering Mings, but I'm definitely not convinced and wouldn't say no to the idea of getting a more ready-made replacement in despite there obviously being more pressing areas of the squad to address.

In the event Evans got things correct both McKennie and Cillessen would be brilliant signings. Particularly the former.

I was under the impression it was the below but could be wrong: https://shop.avfc.co.uk/en/aston-villa-player-training-1/4-zip-sky/p-3491117857303121+z-931-3170162742?_ref=p-DLP:m-GRID:i-r4c0:po-12

Don't really like the big sponsor across training gear but otherwise it's very nice. Saw this close up on Twitter earlier that makes the light blue one look even better in terms of the colour and finer details:

I understand that the forward line is the more obviously pressing issue, but I've no issue at all if we were to spend on a keeper, Ramsdale or otherwise. I think people are underestimating the gravity of the situation with Heaton, not only will he not be fit for the beginning of the season, but there's a realistic chance that he won't be at his previous level again given the combination of the severity of the injury and his age. Despite the fact we all like Steer I think it's fair to say his ceiling at this level is as a solid back up, and even his fitness is in question, while the rest of our options are emphatically not good enough. If it's been identified as something that needs addressing then I'm all for it. Also I don't understand people kicking off asking why we're in for a keeper when we need a striker/winger more. For one this is just a rumour that we don't know the legitimacy of, but even if it is the case that doesn't mean we aren't also in for other positions or that they haven't been prioritised more than signing a keeper. Transfers are more complicated than that and the constant reports about Watkins, Rachica etc by the same logic probably point to us not thinking we're in more desperate need of a goalkeeper than adding to the forward line.

I like Konsa but I don't really agree with the motion that he should be guaranteed a starting place and is better than many prospective signings mentioned based off the last 4 or so games of the season. Honestly he was probably Antonio finishing that chance on the last game away from being public enemy number one for sending us down. Obviously the bulk of our spend needs to be in forward areas and rightly so, but I'd love if we could also get a couple of bodies in defensive positions because over the course of the season we were just as bad defensively as the other end of the pitch.

Well he's a similar age and more proven at a high level than either (that might be harsh on Buendia to be fair), and if anything in terms of balance would be preferable to the two in terms of being able to pair up with Jack as he's probably a bit more direct than either. Not that I trust this will happen mind, as great as it would be.

Granted it'll all be judged on on-field results, but at face value there's been some great appointments made in terms of backroom staff. Can't really go wrong with this one, he's a well-regarded assistant at Premier League level and is apparently a Villa fan to boot.

Given they've had about 20 players over the past couple of years that are good enough to launch Villa to Premier League safety it's something else that Brentford will once again be a Championship team next season.

Brentford.

He wouldn't be my first choice by any means, but the idea that Origi wouldn't be a good signing for a team that finished up by the skin of their teeth last season just shows how much of an influence the social media echo chamber can have. He's a good player.

I know the cost of transfers have lost the run of themselves in modern football but there's absolutely no way Buendia goes for £35 million. And if he did it'd be a ridiculous decision from whoever paid it. Same with that £40 million tag on Edouard. I don't doubt that Celtic have put it out there as posturing, but I'd be surprised if it's any more than around £30 million given he only has a couple of years on his contract and it's not like he's light years beyond Tierney and Dembele, who are their most expensive departures and were sold in the £20-25 million range quite recently.

Personally I'd have Edouard over Watkins all day, even for whatever the extra cost would be. Also with the massive caveat that we keep Jack, as much as I do rate Benrahma I've never been that enthused by the idea of getting him. Jack has been demonstrably better on the left than through the middle this season, I don't doubt he's talented enough to play both roles but he's our best player by a mile and by extension we should probably play him where we can get the most out of him. Benrahma can play on the right but at his best he's playing off the left and in a relatively similar fashion to Jack. I'm not against signing him but I'd rather see us go all in on a specialist right winger with pace to offer a balance in the forward line, and then a centre mid with a bit of presence to again give some balance to the midfield with McGinn and Douglas. As much as all 3 of them are quality players, the midfield I've seen people list of Jack-McGinn-Douglas is one you can just see getting overrun in games. Doesn't have to literally be these players, but a front 6 with the tools of the below would be a better all round fit and more consistently dangerous than one that shoehorns similar attributes in like Jack/Benrahma/Buendia would. Jack-Edouard-Sarr McKennie-Luiz-McGinn

The most VillaTalk thing ever will be the collective pining over Benrahma for the best part of two seasons being completely forgotten about because he was underwhelming tonight when people actually watched him.

Plucky Fulham beating the 11 world beaters of Brentford will be the greatest upset in playoff history.

Onomah's been outshining him thus far to be fair. VillaTalk will implode if that keeps up.

Being Irish I've seen as much as anyone that Hendrick isn't particularly good, saying that though I'd have zero problem with getting him on a free. Not excited by any stretch but could see the merit in it. If the presumption is that we're going to be spending big on first team quality then unspectacular signings like Hendrick that can offer depth will more than likely be the reality outside of that and we could probably do a lot worse than someone who has regularly played 30+ games a season for a side than have been better than us for several years now. Some folks are suggesting spending £20-odd million on players that would more than likely start on the bench which is just complete dreamland stuff.

The more I see it the more I like it but the badge etc is so bizarrely high up that it really takes away from it.

I know Huddersfield fans that barely rated Billing, never mind Bournemouth. Definitely need to be aiming higher than him if we want to actually kick on from being a relegation battling side. It's like when Michael Hector was being suggested because he had a good half against us in the 2-1 against Sheffield Wednesday.