Jas10

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?

The kind of player mate and we could probably convince certain players to join us with more assurance of game time than being a squad player or reserve at other teams.. We should try at least and attempt to have some ambition rather than just “settle for our lot” etc. how do we kick on otherwise? That first good signing could open the door for more and better arrivals...

Still a (slim) chance? I just wonder if he would have been willing and even excited to sign had no other team, particularly a Champions League one, shown an interest. Maybe his head was turned and he decided against us after that... We also need the opportunity to sit down with these players and sell them our vision/project. I think they could be convinced, given the opportunity. I’ve given up on Rashica honestly but it would be a nice surprise and statement signing. Surely there’s got to be other/similar level players we are after too? Gabriel Barbosa anyone? Doug & Wes would help him settle...

Agreed, just wonder if Aarons was actually our first choice and the fee was too high? Signing exciting young players has to be the remit with maybe a more experienced head or solid/physical player such as a CM to help out. I’d be surprised if we didn’t bid for Buendia too, also quite eager for us to sign Benrahma tbh now.

The kind of player we should be after...

We could target the players who are just below Rashica’s level or not as recognised yet (not wanted by CL clubs at this point, wouldn’t get much first team minutes) again it’s up to the scouting department to find these “gems”. But we could also attract the like too, we have to try and we could get lucky. There’s plenty of players who want to play on this league too. Rashica may have been willing to come had Leipzig not shown an interest... Cash seems like a good signing and maybe Watkins would be too but we don’t need to limit our scope to England. We need players on the way up rather than on the way down or stagnating.

Was asking for opinions and thoughts on the players mate as I don’t watch enough football now to know who would be attainable. Mallen not an option? I would think it would be possible to sign a PSV player unless he’s in high demand by top clubs. We do need to be ambitious to a degree and find quality (and young) players from all over the world. We’ve got to make some moves and be willing to spend otherwise we will just be left behind. If we were genuinely interested in Rashica, then he’s not the only decent player out there. There are plenty of high quality players and top prospects out there and good players who are not getting enough game time at more successful clubs that we could attempt to attract. We have to be clever, ambitious (within our capabilities) and bring genuine talent in to kick on and progress. Our level of scouting has to be good and needs to step up. The whole squad has PL experience now, we need to add quality and particularly attacking & technical ability that enhances what we already have in many positions. I don’t want short term fixes and ageing, has been players on high wages, we’ve been through that too many times and suffered as a result. Really need to kick on and try to become a big club again (at least a mainstay in the PL) rather than struggle at the bottom of the table. It won’t be an overnight fix or success but we have to make those steps ASAP and in the right way.

I think he’d be a really difficult get & in high demand if Real would even consider letting him go (which I doubt). Any thoughts on these guys? Donyel Mallen - PSV Marcus Thuram - Monchengladbach Leon Bailey - Leverkusen Luka Jovic - Real Madrid Federico Chiesa - Fiorentina Jeremie Boga - Sassuolo

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-denied-hopeful-bid-18727632.amp https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/08/06/report-aston-villa-made-failed-loan-move-for-real-madrid-youngster-with-immense-talent/%3famp

Luyindama We could do with more height and strength in the side...

CIES Football Observatory: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/most-valuable-players-ranked-transfer-fee-sancho-haaland-hudson-odoi-greenwood-a9421551.html%3famp