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barry'sboots

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Posts posted by barry'sboots

  1. 7 minutes ago, zab6359 said:

    He really wasn't he did a great job for the club at the time and level we were at.

    Seemed like a nice bloke/good club man and he may well have been giving 100% all of the time, but I'm with thabucks, I don't remember him being great for us, particularly towards the end of his spell (can't properly remember - did he have a bad injury?).

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  2. 23 hours ago, lexicon said:

    That remains to be seen at the level they find themselves at now. It's all well and good doing that lower down, but when you sell two key components of the midfield spine, there could well be teething issues there. 

    In any case, the status quo is one of the most underrated things in life. People always want change because it's more exciting or someone sells promises of greener grass, but it's far from always the case. When you've got an 80m player and replace him with a 30m one, you cannot reasonably expect the same level of performance. 

    I don't necessarily disagree.

    I think Brighton have been smart - aided by Chelsea's idiocy - and also have really good recruitment. Dan Ashworth is a super administrator in this area and set them up brilliantly (as he's now proving again at Newcastle) and they seem, so far, to be carrying on his work. Losing Caceido and Macalister in the same window will be a real test though.

    I agree that status quo is underrated. I think our starting XI only needed one upgrade - a replacement for Bailey done with Diaby - and this summer was more about quality depth and challenge so we can rotate/make subs without a large drop off in quality and compete on four fronts. I think we have largely done that - our signings to date have been top notch - but injuries to key players have set us back.

    I don't want to sell Kamara - he has been great for us - but I didn't want to sell Jack either. Sometimes your better players want to move on to "bigger" clubs - many obviously don't have the same emotional attachment to Villa that we have - and even Citeh recognise that if a player really wants out it's best to allow that and rebuild stronger. I think we panicked after Jack's departure - Ings was not the right man for us (fortunately Wet Spam's panic has partially bailed us out) - and I think you always have to have a plan because these things happen. My question was, if Kamara went, would Amrabat and Adams work whilst still creating a surplus to invest in a top LW (as I said, this would be added to, say, the £20m that we might have earmarked for that spot). I don't think Amrabat or Adams are better than/have the same potential as Boub (although, again as I said I haven't seen enough of them to really judge) but was looking at the squad as a whole.

  3. 21 hours ago, Xela said:

    No disrespect to Brighton, they have done wonderfully recently, but i hope we have loftier ambitions than them. 

    Brighton won't always keep finding gems. Look at Southampton. 

    I think Brighton, who are upwardly mobile, do recognise this and their replacements/targets are moving up a notch. They are also getting better players, in front of maybe bigger clubs, because they see Brighton as a strong developer of talent and a pathway through to a big 6 club.

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  4. 17 minutes ago, Robbie09 said:

    No no and no again.

    Bournemouth are welcome to Adams.

    You've obviously seen a lot of Adams then? He seems to get a good press. Why would you be so against him?

  5. 11 minutes ago, lexicon said:

    With all due respect, isn't it a bit silly to suggest a deal based on players that you 'haven't watched enough of'? 

    I didn't say I would do the deal ... I was asking if you, or indeed others who may have a greater awareness of Adams and Amrabat, would consider such a deal. They are both experienced and seemingly highly regarded internationals who are supposedly available at a seemingly known price. I have seen them both but not as much as others might (my viewing is restricted to Villa, MoTD and world cups).

    I like Kamara a lot but there are always option to trade and, if done smartly (like Brighton) this can produce a better team.

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  6. 4 minutes ago, lexicon said:

    No, definitely not. That puts Amrabat starting with Adams as backup IMO, and Kamara is better and younger. 30m also does not get you a 'top' winger these days. You're better off having better players than money lying around, so I'd definitely not take that deal.  

    I didn't say you could only spend the 30m, I said put it into the purchase - we could spend 50m, as with Diaby, but the net spend would be 20m.

    Haven't watched enough of Adams or Amrabat to judge them but the latter looked pretty good in the WC and has big clubs sniffing and Adams would certainly be an upgrade on Dendonker if he's second choice.

  7. 1 hour ago, lexicon said:

    Kamara is easily as good as Caicedo. I wouldn't sell him for less than what Chelsea paid Brighton. 

    So if you could get, say, £80m for Kamara and £10m for Dendonker and replace the two with Tyler Adams and Amrabat for a combined £50m to £60m, leaving you £30m to put in to a top left winger would you consider that?

  8. 18 minutes ago, MaVilla said:

    so....

    what are Davis and Hause up to?

    They seem to be hanging on for dear life.

    Lots of players to get out .... Olsen (if replaced), Hause, Chambers (if replaced), Dendonker (if replaced), looks like Aaron is going, Coutinho, Traore, Bailey (if replaced) and Davis.

    That's a big job. We probably need NSWE to open up a Saudi franchise. 

  9. 1 hour ago, Delphinho123 said:

    Guendouzi at the right price would be a good pick up if we move Dendoncker on. 

    I'm talking £15-20m tops. He seems reasonably versatile and may even be able to play that LM role? Not sure. A lot depends on how much Marseilles are asking for. 

    I see Guendouzi as an 8 (from what I know of him) and think we have an abundance of them - Luiz, Tielemans, JJ and SJM - and, as such, I don't see why we'd put more budget (fee and wages) into him?

  10.  

    The only obvious hole in our squad at the minute is RB where we only have one recognised RB but arguably two who could cover, especially if Emery wants to play a lot with the three CBs in possession.

    However, there are a number of places we could do with squad upgrades if (1) we really want to push on all 4 fronts and still want to target CL; and (2) we can get the incumbent moved on:

    • We could do with upgrading Olsen with a footballing back up GK. I think everyone would agree with this although UE seems happy enough/is saying otherwise. I doubt anyone has seen much of the young Utd keeper we are being linked with?
    • Whilst Dendonker seemed pretty good cover to me at the back end of last season, his progression stats are poor and I think there are options to upgrade, e.g. Adams or Zakaria, with a relatively low net spend. Not sure any of us know how close Tim is to filling this void or whether he needs another loan?
    • A quality replacement for Bailey - if the Saudis are interested - would also be great. Someone like Torres or Johnson could also play "9" if needed.

    Also others that would ideally be cleared out to make headroom/reduce the net spend - Chambers (if we get a RB); Davis and Coutinho and even some of the youngsters like Aaron - which seems like the current focus/an important job.

  11. 5 hours ago, useless said:

    We want goalkeeper, left-back, right-back, number ten, winger, and possibly another midfielder, some of those will depend on outgoings,right-back pretty much a certainty though.

    I could see that - a reserve GK to replace Olsen, a back up right back, a left back to replace Digne (if he were to move on), a DCM (Adams, Jessie, Zakaria type) to replace/upgrade Dendonker, a number 10 (like Lo Celso) to compete with SJM and another wide player (possibly replacing Bailey). This would give us the desired two players per position but wouldn't necessarily impact/disrupt a first 11 but rather upgrade the squad/provide rotation options.

  12. 2 hours ago, rjw63 said:

    Just read a google story that we are going to Piss Wet Spam off by signing a Moroccan midfielder that they are after.

    Can’t see us bringing in another midfield player

    He was fantastic in the WC. Shift out Dendonker and bring in Amrabat (or Zakaria/Adams) and we would have a really strong four for the two double pivot positions with Tim as back up just as we have for the CB positions.  We are pulling together a squad to compete on all fronts!

  13. 2 hours ago, allani said:

    Newcastle aren't owned by the Saudi state (apparently).  They will just create different companies to own different clubs and continue as normal - good luck trying to prove that they aren't ultimately owned by the same people.  Meanwhile the whole concept of V-Sports (amongst others) dies - why would Villa buy a club in Senegal for example if there was then no option to loan / buy players from that club?  Part of V-Sports is about giving us an advantage in spotting and nurturing talent and giving opportunities / dreams to kids who might not get a shot through the traditional scouting approach.  Ownership (or partial ownership) puts more skin in the game, makes clubs more likely to invest in proper training, educational facilities, improving the facilities, etc.  More money going back into grass roots level is a good thing.  Banning it because it is easier than trying to tackle fraud is not the right approach.  Especially when PIF will just find ways of getting around multiple ownership.

    I thought it only applied if you are in the same continent/competition so we could still own a Senagalese club?

     

  14. If money was no object and you could take two of the following, which two would it be and why: Diaby, Johnson, Doku, Gnonto, Felix, Chiesa, Morgan Gibbs White, Torres, Chukwueze, Goncalves or Sancho?

    I would add Williams but it looks like he is staying at Bilbao.

  15. 35 minutes ago, Awol said:

    I’ve read that Monchi churns his squads more than anything we’ve been used to before, and also sells some players at their peak value to reinvest. IF Emery wanted to change up the system and move to a back 3 then selling Moreno for a good profit might make sense, but as @Delphinho123 points out we wouldn’t be selling an injured player anyway so it’s a moot point. 

    He probably had to do this with Valencia though??

  16. 12 hours ago, alreadyexists said:

    So, I think we still need;

    GK (understudy to Emi)

    ST (back up and competition for Ollie)

    FW (fast and energetic attacking midfielder/forward)

    If we can get those I’ll be thrilled.

    What about a back up RB?

    I also think Dendonker will move on and we'll need a new 6 to compete with/cover for Kamara?

  17. I'd be more than happy to see Cam get his chance this season. The kid is a finisher - his England goal earlier this week showed how calm, and pacy, he is - and has really good movement - the second England goal showed this as he dragged the CB away to create space for Elliot. He also seems pretty robust.

     

  18. 15 hours ago, IrishVilla10 said:

    Luiz, kamara, tielemans, dendonker. Who’s the deadwood? I can’t see us spending a big chunk of the budget on another midfielder, definitely not for what kone will cost any at 

    Dendonker I guess. Supposedly 3 clubs in for him. Whilst he has been decent back up for Kamara for the latter part of the season, he could be upgraded. 15m for him, 7m for Marv, a bit for Sanson and we have covered half plus the cost of Kone. That would give us two genuine options for each of the 6 & 8 positions with Tim in the mix for Europe/injuries??

     

  19. 19 hours ago, John said:

    A point well made, but they have always had a decent academy set up (particularly when compared with their first team;)). This one was stolen from under our noses, being from Newtown, as I recall, if only they had taken £15m from Spurs for him, they would have been laughing all the way to the bank:

    Darren Moore reveals failed move to bring Saido Berahino 'back home' to  West Brom | Shropshire Star 

    My Baggies mate is gutted about our latest capture. He always credits the significant upturn in their academy/youth production with Dan Ashworth who did similar for Brighton and is now at Newcastle - I would have loved us to have captured him!!

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  20. Looks like PSG are signing Kang-in.

    That would make all three of their signings, with Ugarte and Asensio, previously speculated Villa targets! We appear to be fishing in the right pond but our maggots are clearly not big enough!

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