STO

If Digne is not in the squad tonight, due to an er, broken eyelash, we may smell a rat! 

Livramento is a decent signing.  15 mill too much, but that is the market at the moment. 

Tyler Adams, yes please.  He is a decent player who can cover two positions.  We also need back up to Kamara, who was injured a couple of times and is likely to be the same this season, given the way he plays the game.  Fantastic player though he is. 

The way we play, we look like we will score goals from all over the pitch but for the tougher games, we still look short of forward thinking players.  Diaby, Watkins are definite starters but beyond that we have Bailey, Archer and Duran, who are all a bit of a risk.  Really hope we grab another wide/central forward to boost the numbers. 

He was at Cardiff last year and isn't ready. 'based on today' fair enough, wrong choice of words,  but from what i saw, he needed to go at the defender more and chose the easier option.  Unai can work with him but I don't think he's ready for a full season.  Be great for him to go to a really decent club in the Championship for another season.  

I think Archer is more of a box, get the ball out in front of him, type player.  He isn't ready for a load of games at the top level but could possibly play against some of the lower teams in the cups.  He's a good player but not ready yet.  Same for Philogene-Bidace.  

Based on today, Bidace isn't quite ready and we defo need a left/right sided forward.  We also need some proper competition for Watkins.  If he gets injured, we have no-one who can quite play that same role.  Archer isn't that type of player. 

I think Unai is being clever with his words.  We won't sign another keeper unless someone comes in for Olsen.   (Please come in for him)

If big Tim goes out on loan, with Sanson out on loan and the Donk leaves permanently. I'm sure we will see another midfielder come in.

1 hour ago, david-avfc said:

£2m for Nakamba is probably a couple of mil cheap but realistically he isn’t part of our plans and if any other PL clubs bar Luton thought he was worth having they’d have jumped all over it. Rather than worrying about what amounts to a few quid in the world of PL clubs it’s best to shake hands and part ways

The Guardian quoted £4m as the fee.  I'm happy with that quote, even if it's not true. 

Congrats to the Donk. 

Yes, how dare he secure himself for the rest of his life instead of joining a Premier League club.  Shame on him for accepting all that money!

This will come down to either cash or desire to test himself.  We will see. 

Lukaku to Villa?  Not a chance. 

Championship at best but we should let him go with a buy back clause and/or a sell on deal in place.  Good player but not going to make it at Villa. 

14 minutes ago, Follyfoot said:

Alex Baena linked again

This link has been made on and off throughout the summer so far.  Wouldn't surprise me if this happens. 

Bad news re:JJ, hopefully, we already have people signed and they will come in after their holidays, alongside Torres and his Mrs!  It's all been a bit slow but I suppose no-one has done much as yet, unless it's Chelsea selling to the arabs. 

35 minutes ago, MWARLEY2 said:

Feels very much like Pau wanted it sorted so he could enjoy his honeymoon . Rather than fielding calls from his agent every 10 mins. 

He's probably at Weston-Super-Mare. 

Unlike Didier Deschamps, Unai can respect the fact that a person has just got married and wishes to attend their honeymoon.  Pau Torres is all done and the medical can wait until he's back.  Fair play to Villa and Unai for allowing this and respecting Pau to get his holiday/honeymoon in before he comes to Villa for the next 5 years.  

Cracking signing, really talented player and we all know that Unai will improve him even further.  

1 hour ago, ender4 said:

What date is the first fixture played?

August 12th, although I wonder if there will be a Friday night game.

Donk isn't perhaps forceful enough for Villa but I could see him doing a really good job at somewhere like Forest, Luton, Burnley.  Playing centre back gives him an edge too. 

I presume that this means the potential to sign Guendouzi is ended? 

You cannot play 50 odd times for Belgium and be a bad player.  Welcome Youri.  In terms of upgrading our midfield, not so sure but I guess he adds more depth to the overall quality. 

Hopefully, Monchi is still in Spain but has signed for Villa and is going to surprise us with Nico Williams and a new kit unveiling!  (Yeah, I know). 

I'm going for Micah Richards.  Mr sicknote, Mr unprofessional, couldn't give a shit, attitude.  I also blame Sherwood for signing him.

Grealish, for obvious reasons. 

Doug Ellis for holding us back and being the ego that he was. 

His stock has fallen over the last 12 months but I guess there is a player in there somewhere.  Emery has a habit of signing rejects and ne'er do wells and making them a polished outfit.  I think that's where I'd place Tielemans at the current time.   Who does he replace, or, who is he better than at Villa? 

80 miliion Euro buy-out clause but 40 of it due to his previous club if he's sold.   

I'd like to wait until a week before the season starts, so we can properly assess the players brought in and to have a look at what business other teams have done.