CroVillan

32 minutes ago, Aston_Villan4 said:

I can’t wait for the day when people finally accept the new badge and move on from complaining about it. 

6 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

Take my **** money

That would be one of our best evee away kits. Love that

OMG I’d buy ten!!

Hopefully we get some news about Barkley in the next 24hrs

15 hours ago, _AA_786 said:

He's a better striker from a finishing perspective but doesn't offer Ollies workrate or working the channels so won't suit our system as much.

It's all hypothetical though 

Oh FFS I’ll never live it down or hear the end of it. 

but yes it’s definitely ALL hypothetical lol

5 hours ago, Wes said:

Just for the sake of discussion ( not my personal preference, nor do I think it likely)...

What about 40m Euros + Soule + McKennie for Luiz?

Nope no way with McKennie Wes.

but……40m plus Soule and Locatelli and I’m listening to offers

All jokes aside, there’s really not much between them. I honestly think Osmihen has a higher ceiling.

10 minutes ago, paul514 said:

You think Osimhen is a drop off in quality from Ollie Watkins?

Yeah so do I, I just want to see him wearing a Villa top and that Zorro nose mask.

2 minutes ago, fightoffyour said:

Missed them sorry!

All good buddy.

Would be hard replacing Ollie I agree and I’m on the fence but at 200m I’m selling. 
I just think you’re able to improve the squad with 4 quality players. Ones that would have an impact on he squad more than losing Ollie. 
 

that’s just me though. 

2 minutes ago, fightoffyour said:

And we’d still need a striker

Well there’s an answer at least. I’m guessing he’d be a drop off in quality (who wouldn’t, that’s the point) but might be a net plus thanks to the other signings.

You don’t think Openda nor Osmihen are strikers?

2 minutes ago, fightoffyour said:

And we’d still need a striker

Well there’s an answer at least. I’m guessing he’d be a drop off in quality (who wouldn’t, that’s the point) but might be a net plus thanks to the other signings.

Striker? I’ve named you two quality strikers.

56 minutes ago, fightoffyour said:

Sell Watkins for £200m, who are we buying as a replacement?

I’ll wait.

For 200m you pull the trigger and don’t look back. 
who, there’s many a option it’s whether the forward options can adapt as quickly. 
 

for 200m ( wages depending) you’re talking 

Fofana 

ugarte

williams  and someone like Openda or Osmihen.

thats a ridiculous array of talent. Then it’s over to Unai to work his magic. 

52 minutes ago, nick76 said:

not specifically linked to Villa though

GET

HIM

IN

57 minutes ago, thabucks said:

That’s the type of signing I expect us to make as the data department under Monchi’s guidance grows. We need continue to be smart with our recruitment and he could be the next Dani Olmo or the next Halilovic. 

Olmo yes, Halilović Hell no.

He’s been a running joke amongst us Croats for years. But I agree, actually mentioned it to a couple of posters in another thread. 
 

tottenham just signed a young defender who will be mega. Same reviews as Gvardiol and is ridiculously good on the ball. 
 

look out for Baturina from our Dinamo conveyor belt, that’s who we should looking at x

59 minutes ago, CarryOnVilla said:

I have no idea who he is, or how good he is, but i suspect BS

He plays for the enemy!! Burn him alive 

there’s a bit of buzz around him reading the Croatian papers but I just choose to ignore everything that’s not Dinamo related lol

2 minutes ago, RicRic said:

Ugarte is an excellent option but it seems like we are stuck in the british market based on all these links, last summer the type of players we were linked with were juicy and filled with optimism, we are now miles ahead in terms of position but for some reason linked with below average players imo.

I think our financial position re: FFP etc is a major factor. I think we’re navigating through the next couple of seasons and trying to stay where we’ve obviously surprised others and ourselves. 
when heck discussed  his train analogy of our financial position compared to our footballing status he wasn’t waffling. Unai has exceeded all expectations and I truly think his too to get us where we are. so not its like “shit” have to sign x and y type players without the funding. We’ll find a way and personally it’s free agent time atm, when the window actually opens, loan some player, sell some players I think links will beef up.

11 minutes ago, nick76 said:

Luiz isn’t more replaceable otherwise he wouldn’t have a valuation of 80-100m because the market would be a lot lower because there would be more supply of similar talent.  The reason he’s valued so high is because of his talent and there aren’t many that could replace him. If we sold Luiz we would struggle to replace more than most in the squad.  There would be very few like Martinez and Watkins that would be harder to replace.

I do agree in a sense Nick but I also it really depends on your surrounds and set up. 
a Dougie under Gerrard or Smith would be half the price than that under Emery. 
same goes with Coutinho. His price would dropped by 60-70% after only 6 months after leaving Pool.

a coach can make a player flourish and reach his full potential, the league in which they play too is a major factor whether it suits their style of play. 
 

the talent is definitely there with Dougie and I love the bloke but the difference between him and Tielemans who was free is not 80-100m. 
 

in saying that glad he’s ours x

2 minutes ago, MaVilla said:

you clearly havent been married that long brother.

Your time will come.

Brother more the reason to be thinking of such things lol

18 minutes ago, RicRic said:

We can get so much better than him so im not sure why we are stuck on him like there arent other players out there with more superior qualities.

Totally agree Ric. Each to their own though I guess I just don’t see much in him myself tbh. 
look in reality 30m gets you didly squat these days in all fairness unless you strike gold like MR. Luckily we have someone like Monchi in charge that can do just that. Personally I’d see if we can get Ugarté on loan option to buy for say 45 next season and then when finances improve then tackle the Central midfield as such. Think we’re fairly sorted now with a fit Buendia, McGinn, Tiels, Dougie and MR

1 minute ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Gallagher feels unrealistic. Why would they sell a play that was captain for most of last season?

It’s Chelsea….its what they do. 
have a look at their past record of selling players that turn out elite. (not saying Gallagher will btw).

not sure how I feel about it. Not a bad player but hardly an improvement on what we’ve got. Is a toiler and puts in a shift which is a bonus. If wages and didn’t have to pay over 30m I’d say pull the trigger but if the supposed 140k a week wages being mooted then hang up and no thanks.
 

55 minutes ago, MaVilla said:

i agree.

i was lying in my bed recently and i thought...i wonder if we will be linked with a cr*p player like McKennie again this summer, after we were touted to sign him a couple of seasons ago, many VT fans got super excited, and then he turned out to be dire when he did end up going to a PL club.

It seems the cr*p links are still here.

I wouldnt take him on a free, waste of wages.

I love the Villa but there’s other things I’d be thinking about laying in bed at night lol

32 minutes ago, paul514 said:

just had a look at the milan squad, hopefully it is an outgoing, I don't like many of their players and the ones that I do are very expensive.

Don’t even like any from the Inter squad Pauly?

15 minutes ago, PaulMcGrath_5 said:

Feel like we’ve been here before with the whole flight tracking thing and very rarely (if ever), has it ever amounted to anything.

Yep.

Rashtica

27 minutes ago, Philosopher said:

I Don't disagree. But I'd like to take a look at Nedeljovic. Because if he looks really promising I'd prefer to go with the ups and downs of developing and really good prospect that just needs the opportunity to breakthrough. 

I don't think Dumfries is much of an improvement on Cash. Frimpong is going forward, but worse defensively, so quite frankly i don't see the point in either of those players. Right back is where we have been getting targeted and coming undone (other than set pieces). We need a defensive monster there. Konsa is too reluctant to go to his man as he is scared of getting turned.  With Bailey out there the cover isn't great either. Things worked better when Kamara was dropping in to make a back 3, but otherwise that's our achilles heel.

Ideally I'd like a rapid right back that can dribble, cross, and defend one on one. These guys are are treasure. Those that fit this mould are already at a top club or have their choice of top clubs.

 

 

I’ve watched a few Crvena Zvezda matches with him when fit and seems a solid prospect even held is own in CL but I don’t think he’s ready for the ruggers of PL just yet. 
 

I agree with a solid defensive RB someone like Wan Bissaka would be ideal then sell Digne and upgrade on LB too. Be an interesting window this next month or so, so we shall see what the heads have planned.

21 minutes ago, Philosopher said:

The thing with Rogers is he was far more dangerous picking up the ball centrally. He never really looked half as comfortable picking up the ball on the left hand side. Also defensively while he is big and put in the work, defensively he was very poor. Rogers has no 10 written all over him. I actually think our best home line up next season is (with everyone fit); 

 

                          Martinez

 

Konsa         Mings       Torres      Moreno

 

                   Kamara      Luiz  

 

Bailey                Rogers               Ramsey

 

                          Watkins

 

With Ramsey, Rogers, and Bailey, they're all going to have their fitness issues, so McGinn for example while not in that line up will always get loads of games as he is first in if any of the 5 players between the defenders and strikers are out. Tielmens is next in (for the 3 central positions) Plus we have a minimum of 48 games next season, and Kamara has his issues with fitness too. Plus I'd like us to be able to bench Luiz if he is playing as poorly as he has been the last 10 to 15 games or so, which is where Barkley comes in.

Then we have Duran for Watkins, Diaby for Bailey,  and Buendia (who won't be good enough in all likelihood injury and quality issues explained in my previous post) for Ramsey. If we assume McGinn plays no10 in aways games and against the tough opposition, then Buendia is the clear weak leak.

If you look at Mings, Konsa and Moreno. There are deficiencies there. Konsa isn't really a right back. Moreno is great going forward, so to is Digne but they're both vulnerable defensively.

Mings is coming back from an ACL and realistically won't be up to speed till the new year at the soonest. Plus a cb partnership of Konsa and Torres lacks aggression and aerial prowess. So a partner for Torres that is powerful in the air and aggressive in the challenge is ideal (Araujo is actually perfect for this even though unrealistic). I'd like to see Cash, Konsa and Mings as our back up defense. With Konsa getting rotated in at right back too. And Mings rotated in at either CB position.  However being very patient and careful with Mings. 

 

Agree with what you said and the squad looks sound but really need a quality RB. Konsa is not a RB and is much better centrally. 
other than that spot on 

13 minutes ago, Stevo985 said:

I’m aware. It’ll still annoy me. 

Bah Humbug Stevo.

rock on I say