Shay

i think the player that will be bench if JWP signs wont be Luiz.. it will be Mcginn. And regarding the Luiz vs JWP stats, i think JWP can rack up better stats with better players and coaching/tactics around him. So we might see an even better JWP here plus the elite dead ball ability of course

I think we’ll go 4-3-3 ; Martinez Cash - Konsa - Mings - Targett Nakamba/Luiz - JWP/Sanson Buendia/Mcginn Bailey - Ings - Watkins or? Martinez Cash - Konsa - Mings - Targett Nakamba/Luiz - JWP/Sanson Ings/Mcginn Bailey - Watkins - Buendia

I’ve been patiently waiting for the transfer to finally be official and say this, but I’m over the moon that we have signed both Emi Buendia and Leon Bailey. I first suggested the signing of both players back in May, way before either were linked to the club. Im very much delighted that the club has signed them as they were my top picks too! Cant wait to see them both play for the club. And here’s to hoping Jack stays and maybe one last push to signing JWP. Wow what a team that’ll be. Its a good time to be a Villan!

I’d have loved Rodrigo de Paul but hes gone to Atletico. Off the top of my head; Daichi Kamada Houssem Aouar Brahim Diaz Ianis Hagi Nabil Fekir Jesse Lingard Dele Alli

Yes and none of them bar RVP and Sagna were top players. Rosicky was a crooked, Arshavin was an relatively unknown player brought in from Russia and the rest were squaddies. Only RVP and Sagna were the experience heads there. That wasnt enough and they didnt win anything with that squad. My point was they tried to build a squad mostly filled with young players and the plan failed in the end. If they had bought some experienced top players along with those young players they had, they might have won something.

That was Arsene Wenger’s mistake i believe. I remember watching Arsenal back then. Wenger had a squad of young Fabregas, Nasri, Song, Ramsey, Wilshere and Walcott and won nothing with them. I’d hate to see a squad of Grealish, Luiz, Buendia, Watkins and Konsa win nothing for years. Works best if there’s a balance. Right now i dont see much experienced heads or a true leader (other than Mings and Martinez).

I wouldnt mind if he came back. It isnt like having Elmo and Taylor. He is a seasoned winner who has played at the very top ever since he left Villa. He’s experienced and have a great personality and if he can rub off and build some of that winning mentality into our dressing room then im all for it. And if he did come back it might likely be on basis that they have offered some sort of coaching/staff role after he hangs up his boots. Pretty sure they offered Elmo the same thing. I still have a poster of him and Milner in our peak Nike kit on my bedroom wall so if they ever came back to Villa it will be really cool!

You know what i meant!

Get those claret and blue tinted glasses off. Made up link or not i dont think anyone can deny he is better than any of our midfielders so of course he will elevate our squad and first 11. He is 26 and coming to his peak years so his best years will be with us. 8 out of 15 of his goals/assists contribution last season came from set-piece and 3 from the spot. Thats worth 10 million alone. I bet Ollie and Wesley would benefit from it the most. Even Mings could get some goals from those set piece i reckon. This season we haven’t been able to turn most of the results in our favour when coming from behind. Chasing a game? Bring Wesley/Davis on, win some free kicks. We can get an advantage from that for sure. Squad depth is important if we’re aiming for europe. Even more so with our style of play, our players are gonna get gassed by feb if we don't implement some form of rotation, evident by this season. And 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 he will fit in there anyway, and I haven’t seen anything to suggest Dean is gonna only play one formation. He changes formations depending on which he feels is suited to win the game. If having him in the team leave Mcginn/Luiz on the bench then so be it. Look at it positively, we’ll have a stronger bench. Season is long, they will rotate.

Wingers are flair players that will dribble and take players on, they’re bound to get dispossessed or misplace a pass/cross a lot more than other outfield players. If you go to a Manchester United forum, they’re saying the same about Rashford, their top scoring winger. Its mindblowing really. But nothing new. We should be happy that we are seeing end products from our wingers. It means they’re contributing to the team with their play.

No one should be sold just yet. They should stay as back up while we get in some upgrades. Id sell Trezeguet before i sell Anwar. But not this summer of course. Get a high quality winger like Leon Bailey and move Grealish back to AM. Essentially we will only have 4 wingers so no we’re not gonna “stack players up” if thats what you’re worried about.

yes i agree, we need an upgrade. That is why i said keep Anwar as back up.

Personally, i feel that attacking players should be judged on their attacking outputs, and for me, Anwar has definitely delivered satisfying numbers but im also not blind in a sense that i can see that his overall play has been hot and cold since he’s signed for us. I am happy to keep his as back up LW next season. I dont think the manager would sell him knowing his qualities. He is a valuable squad player i feel. Keep for at least another season.

If we are really serious about building a squad for Europe we need quality in depth then i think we should be signing proven players alongside young players with huge potentials that are nearing their best years. I would love for us to sign someone like say, Nabil Fekir (27) in midfield and Sander Berge (23 ) for DM. For the flanks, we should sign Emi Buendia (24) and Leon Bailey (23). Both of them are comfortable playing on either sides so we can swap them around depending on the opposition. Im not sure who to add for left back maybe that brentford kid, Rico Henry (23) that the gaffer used to manage. All of them are quality footballers full of creativity & end product and would start in any top 10 PL sides. Im not suggesting we buy all of them but any 3 out of those options and we look a much better side. We need these type of players so that we can finally rotate the squad without looking clueless when Jack inevitably gets injured.

players off the top of my head that will definitely be an improvement to our current options (Trez, AEG): Buendia - RW/AM. My first choice. Pace, flair, close control all top notch. His PL stats speaks for itself. Can definitely improve on end product though. Will definitely be a star for us. Benrahma - LW. His skills, pace and dribbling ability will scare any PL fullbacks. A player that will definitely get villa fans on their feet. You will be entertained. Could be a hit or a miss though. Dean Smith knows him well, he’d know if he got what it takes. Harry Wilson - RW. This guys a weird one. Did very well for Lampard's Derby. Not so for Bournemouth. I think he would do well in a better team. Great left foot. Great technique from set piece and a deadball specialist. Will benefit a lot from all the free kicks Grealish wins. Long shots second to none. Only 22, which convince me he can grow into a good player of similar ilk to Snodgrass. Bench option maybe. Januzaj - RW/AM. The wonderkid hype has died off, rightfully so, but he has grown into a player for Sociedad. Besides Oryazabal and Odegaard, hes their next best player. Very underrated. Quietly good. I think he would do well for us. Abit injury prone. Brooks - RW/AM. Been injured this season. But was progressing very well right before the injury and definitely worth to give him a shot. Cantwell - LW/AM. Similar style to Grealish. Which is what i like about him. Good enough option for the top 6 clubs. We should be in for him. Viktor Tysgankov - RW. Unknown talent from Dynamo Kyiv. Haven’t seen him mentioned here before. Prolific Winger. Only 22 years old and been banging goals and assists consistently for the past 3 seasons. His stats is something like 20 goals 15 assists per season. I hope Lange is aware of this guy. Much much weaker league, so will probably be a huge risk.

Anyone here knows more of this Jake Cooper lad of Millwall? Has something like 5 goals and 6 assists playing as a CB. 23 years old. 1.93m tall and left-footed. Apparently alot of interest around and rumours are Stevie G wants to sign him up. Is he any good? Could he be a good signing for us?

Any reason why Kalinic is not with the squad yet?

I have seen that mistake. I knew someone would bring that up. That sort of things happens to all top goalkeepers. Even the likes of de Gea, Allison, Kepa and Leno has made those kind of mistakes this season. What separates them from others is that they produce top saves week in week out that affects the result of the game. If you have seen Dean this season you'll know that he's having an excellent season. PL quality keeper and future England no.1. The Blades loves him and even gave their support at the end of the game after that mistake. That shows alot. I'm a hundred percent sure the Villa faithful would give him the same support here.

I would prefer if it'd be a loan move instead. Not too sure if Heaton would be the same after a lengthy injury. We can wait till the summer to look for a better or younger keeper imo. Dean Henderson of Sheffield United is one to watch. Great shot stopper. Very vocal/commands his box well and still only 21 years of age. Would love him here.

Do you have a source? Great move if so.

I think he would be a perfect replacement on Sam Johnstone. 19 clean sheets and PFA League One team of the year is impressive for a 21 years old keeper. We need to snap him fast as other clubs are also interested in him.

If Terry and Samba leaves, then im all for this kid to partner Chester next season, along with Mitch Clark as back up. Time to give the kids a chance.

Past it? Young has been one of the most consistent performer for united this season. 2 goals and 8 assists from left back is a great record.

A true Villan designing our kit, whats not to like? I am genuinely excited to finally see a true claret and blue colour on our kits. Looking forward to the leaked photos!

Have we been linked with him?