Jas10

Surely Chelsea will be wanting to offload some fringe players after splashing the cash? Whether on loan (with view or option to buy) or outright signings, to either enhance or increase the size of the squad, maybe we could pursue a few of the following? I’m sure some players will consider at least a short term move to put themselves in contention for the Euros too... Tomori Ampadu Emerson Bakayoko Loftus-Cheek Barkley Kenedy (decent shout for the wings?) Batshuayi/Giroud

Agreed, just tried to get a list of possible targets or suggestions together and he was one of the few I could think of from the Prem. Not really what we need or want (nowhere near my first choice) but a motivated player needing to show their worth to be selected for their national side should be an asset (and there will be younger players on lower wages available that are in the same situation). I don’t think he’ll get much game time at Chelsea with Werner first choice and possibly Tammy the backup. Doubt he’d want to come to Villa though. I’d rather sign younger players with huge potential but Giroud would be one of the few older ones I’d welcome with his ability and experience - he’d still be able to offer (and teach) a lot, especially for a season, while we seem to be taking a while or maybe even struggling to bring in a long term striker. Wouldn’t be the option I’d want us to go for unless we are really struggling. Hoping we can bring in at least one really talented CF who has high potential and can be a reliable goalscorer for many years. Since we’ve been linked to Wilson (not a fan) even the idea of Iheanacho is more appealing now. Of the known players or existing links, I’d like Edoaurd but Watkins could be great too (especially if he’s bringing his mate Said with him!) Worth targeting players who need game time and want to battle for a place in their national side, one of a few approaches we could/should try.

We could/may go for at least one of the following yet: Watkins Edouard Iheanacho Batshuayi Origi Giroud (loan? Might be worth targeting players ahead of Euros who won’t be first choice at their clubs but need game time to prove their worth) Would prefer any of those over Wilson. Or players from abroad (a dream signing? Or potential star) that I hope we have already identified, surely Lange will have picked a few out. As for the wings, I’m hoping we are quietly going to be completing a deal for Benrahma (along with Watkins) and/or Buendia. More Lange targets too hopefully... It is getting a bit concerning now as time is flying but I’m still remaining hopeful and positive. Hopefully the relative silence just means we are keeping things close to the chest and working hard to get our business done.

Would be stupid to sell him, don’t think we will & hope not.

Exactly what I was thinking Had my heart set on Martinez tbh, would be such a great and long term signing. No major objection to Romero but I don’t think Gazzaniga is very good (that one concerns me).

Absolutely. I think if we get Watkins it’s as a CF though.

No one said that and it’s a huge exaggeration. Everyone just has different views and different opinions on what approach we can and should make. Ultimately, we all want this club to succeed.

I don’t mean to be rude but I can’t help but get so frustrated with suggestions or links to players like this... it demonstrates little to no ambition at all and is so short sighted and such a waste of money. The amount of times I’ve seen ppl bring up names like Barry, Benteke, Albrighton (and Snoddy too, who I did like in the championship but did F all in the POF when we needed him most) beggars belief. And it’s been going on for far too long. It’s a small minded or small club mentality that I wish a lot of fans would escape from... Aging players on high wages is very much the last thing that we need! If we want to kick on & progress and become a proper PL team then we have to get away from this kind of thinking and sentimentality. We need to get quality players in who are going to improve year on year and to develop and strengthen what will become a really strong team. That is the best approach you can have (if you sign the right players) if you actually want to achieve something and get somewhere. And if certain players aren’t good enough or developing quickly enough then we have to move them on and not waste time with them (sorry but, for example, Davis. But much worse are players like Taylor, Nyland, Lansbury) unless they can genuinely offer something and help the team e.g. strikers need to score goals, midfielders need to create, defenders defend etc. etc. We’re finally back in the PL now, no more F’ing about please... I’m really sorry (and please don’t see this as a personal attack, it really isn’t) but I am utterly exhausted and even disappointed by this kind of thinking and it has been going on for far too long... Let’s make something of ourselves and restore some pride back in the “Aston Villa” name and firmly kick the other, much lesser, clubs and fans back in their place. No more backwards thinking and wasted resources and... no more passengers in this team!!

And yet Bournemouth took 6 points off us last season... we have such a poor squad and if not for Jack (over the course of the season & our defensive solidity after lockdown) we would have been down... quite amazing we stayed up and on such a low points tally too. We can’t go through such a situation again & we have a genuine opportunity to do something about it. Massive improvement required and the signings will determine how much ambition we have and what we are capable of achieving... firstly we need to reduce the dependence on Jack for pretty much the entirety of our attacking and creative play by adding a few who could share the load and cover for his absence (injuries) so it wouldn’t impact and affect us so massively and negatively. Atm, we really are hopeless without him and that’s quite shameful, especially at this level. He needs some reason for optimism too... Personally, I would much prefer us to go for exciting, younger players on the way up with the potential to be genuine stars and to become part of a strong & improving team for the long term (let’s build this team and make it a force!). Our squad has at least one season of PL experience now, we need to add quality more than anything else. A strong and even experienced CM would help us out though as we seem lightweight in midfield at times... Obviously, the majority of us fans will get behind any players that come in but in my opinion (and everyone is entitled to their own of course & we can agree to disagree) we would do well to avoid short term signings on older and more expensive (wages) players and not just limit our scope to the English leagues. Just want us to do as well and progress as much as possible... UTV

One of our priorities this window has to be lightening the burden & responsibility on Jack... we would have finished bottom if he was injured for a decent amount of games... our whole attacking play revolves around him and everyone looks to pass it to him before really trying anything themselves... We need a big upgrade in attacking quality and players that have belief & confidence (coupled with technical ability & skill) that are willing to express themselves, this kind of player is a much higher priority than a striker (which we also obviously need) imo. Its why I would like us to go for players like Benrahma, Buendia, Deulofeu etc. (and why Rashica would have been a great signing, there’s plenty of these kinds of players out there and we should be pursuing them & hopefully are). I think it’s what we need most and Jack will enjoy playing with these kinds of players, just imagine the amount of chances we will create and we will be able to cope without him at times...

Would only want Wilson if we can give Hogan to Bournemouth as part of the deal and are signing another striker. Maybe offload Samatta and send Davis out on loan or sell. Otherwise, let’s stick to younger players on the way up please rather than overpaid has beens... Certainly doesn’t match with the suggested profile of player we are after, as according to Purslow. A striking department of Watkins/Edouard, Wilson & Wesley is definitely an improvement but can we possibly do any better? Personally, I’m disappointed if we aren’t looking at potential stars & goalscorers from abroad (maybe we are but the Wilson links concern me tbh and I’d be even more worried if he’s seen as our main or number 1 striker). In urgent need of wingers or wide forwards too... hope we get this right.

I really hope we’re not one of those silly clubs...

WWE

So does his...

Good enough for the first team & better than what we have? Think he’d be a better or more effective option than Benrahma?

Yes mate, Wednesfield. But let’s be be honest, Wolves were always a shite little team until they got lucky & did some dodgy dealings to make the breakthrough. Bog standard Championship team. I’d love for us to put them back in their place one day. The fans have become so arrogant and mouthy now, they need shutting up.

Pleased with this signing. He’s young, rated, was in demand, high potential, good character - what’s not to like? Ok, who’s next then?

Agreed & Mane is a great example. Southampton made some decent signings then, Tadic also. Sure we can do similar...

Same here mate and I’m surrounded by bloody Wolves fans...

Hopefully we will actually be making a surprise signing or two, I can rest easy then and shut up No one knows what our targets are so it’s entirely possible...

Fair enough mate but our scouting needs to be at a level that we can find and bring in players like this, otherwise what’s the point in having a scouting department? I think it’s the one of the few ways to eventually become a top half team, we have to bring in some proper players and future stars. Look at Wolves for instance, it is possible to break in and “upset the order”. Obviously it will take time and be more difficult for us as we won’t be having any dodgy dealings If they can convince foreign/Portuguese talent to come and live in Wolverhampton then surely we have a chance to attract these kinds of players too? We’ve got to try...

Any thoughts on youngsters or potential stars we could bring on from abroad? Ready to step in and improve the first team. Or am I just spouting nonsense?