Rich_D

Feels like i'm fighting a losing battle here then. He is by no means my 1st choice to join this summer, i just thought he would be a very affordable punt. Different story for Fletcher for me. He looked, at times ill agree, like a potential good quality player that could work here. My understanding of what Randy said was that players that don't play, need to go to raise capital, which will go on improved players, and if extra cash is needed for those, it will be there. Not that he is going to spend 10+m on another player.

My point is not that he is a world beater, but that he is one of the best value players available to us, being realistic. He is available on free. If he doesn't work out, he can leave, for a profit. I'm just not one to live in a dream world like some people who think MoN is going to spend 12m on Hugo Rodallega, or bid for some young foreign talent that people bring up every summer. Randy has already said money is not available, so he would be an alternative to Heskey, at least Boyd has goals in him.

The Kenny Miller that played for a struggling Wolves and likewise Derby? The Anthony Stokes that is only 21, and at the time he played for Sunderland was very young? Not even in the slightest a comparable. Boyd has consistently scored goals at Rangers, and also at Kilmarnock. Now compare the service within those two teams against the service from Young, Downing and Milner. He is available on a free, that is something that, with respect to what Randy has said recently, should be considered, ALONG, with his record.

I disagree with the compete with Viera comment. Different positions, different players. It would be interesting to see what Mancini is thinking for Milner. At the moment, they don't have a CM that is attacking, they have two out and out wingers, and two holding players, even though they have the options for a CAM. I know for a fact that JM is not in football for the money. It is very much an after thought when it comes to him. He has said before that at Villa he has found something he has craved for years, stability, with a quality club, great manager, and some top players around him. If City made it in to the CL, I then think we would be saying our byes now, as that is an attraction that we can't offer. I think he believes he owes something to Villa, MoN and the rest, as after all, they were the ones that had the belief in him, and he is where he is because of them.

How would Boyd be pointless? Find me a player that has a good goalscoring record, is a similar price to Boyd (which will be hard!) and someone that we can realistically bring in (or should i say, that MoN would bring in). It's all good saying we should get a big name player, but 1) they don't always work 2) Were in EL, not CL 3) MoN has said he's not prepared to take the EL seriously, it's for the reserve and youth 4) don't have buckets of cash available He scores goal in a lower league, yes, but he is available on a FREE. No initial layout. A squad player that would offer more than Heskey does. Gabby-Carew Fonz-Boyd Get money for Heskey, no money out for Boyd. Job is a good one.

Repeatedley said this. How much do you reckon his valued by Wigan, and how much you would pay for him? I'd take N'Zogbia over Hugo though

I agree, 12 goals in 16 games is a terrible return for someone who cost them nothing but his wages.

Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta were both cheap, well spotted. Were they playing for big clubs? No. Were they proven to be a hit in the PL when Moyes signed them? No. Moyes did very well bringing in these two players. It has proved that you don't need to spend massive amounts of money to get quality players. However, Moyes did a thing that only a small amount of managers do. Taking a punt on unproven talent, that looks promising, and nurturing them in to top quality PL players. MoN, hopefully, has done that with Delph. This is where players like Fletcher, O'Hara, maybe even Boyd, come in to play. They will be cheap and all want to play football. Fletcher has scored goals for a poor side, yes, they went down, but it is not a one man team. He scored goals with service from Elliott, and sometimes Eagles. Those two players don't compared to Downing, Young and Milner! The lad has great potential, and just because he may not look a million dollars, or ever played for a top team, a quality player can score goals in a poor team! Boyd would be available on a free. Yes, he's a little older, but he is the top goalscorer in the Scottish league, which isn't easy to get, if you think it is, get your boots on and do better. SPL isn't as good as the PL, but the Championship, i think so. Like i said before, if the guy comes on a free and only scores a handful of goals, then it's a good deal. Similar situation to Owen last summer when people wanted him here. You also have to take into account the changing market when it comes to football transfers. Because of the likes of Zlatan and Ronaldo, players are being rated at much more than they actually are.

Found his feet in Spain. Not keen on spending 12m+ for a 31yo striker that didn't score too many goals for one of the best English clubs. I'll admit, he is a great player.

L Young - Clyne or Belletti (Free) Beye - Davies - Richards or Onouha Bouma - Can't think of a decent LB around, maybe someone like Gibbs? Sidwell - O'Hara Harewood - the Fonz Heskey - Fletcher

Would be a good addition as i think he's on a free? I'm all for bringing in experienced players but paying as much for someone like Fuller as Fletcher would be a stupid deal, as Fuller will last a couple of seasons, where as Fletcher could be around til his end. Players like Boyd would be a good shout, as he is available on a free. Same as Owen was not 'a risky signing' as Man U had no initial out lay, he scored of crucial goals, so in effect, there was no risk! If Boyd comes for free, doesn't play that much but comes on a scores 2 goals this season but they are the ones to get us 6 points, i'd take that.

He may not be as good as Sidwell at the moment, but i can see Cattermole being a better player in 5 years (which would make him the same age as Sidwell is now). Thats the advantage of youth. The disadvantage is have=ing the experience yes, but with players like Petrov, Carew, Dunne, Friedel all add that wise head to nurture the youth.

Contradiction? Rooney played up on his own the majority of the season. More like a Gerrard role or what?

That would mean playing more of a 5 man midfield? If so, Haven't we already got a play that can do that in Milner?

These kind of players along with mentions of people like Roque "One good season" Santa Cruz are not going to boost the side and would be a waste of time, IMO. Fletcher - at a very poor side in Burnley. Never mentioned he was the same quality as Carew. If you want to start using starts like goals per shoot, Bent is better than Rooney the season just gone in those stats! Fletcher is young, would thrive off deliveries from Young, Downing, Milner Richards - Yes, he may have lost some pace, but just because he loses some pace doesn't make him slow. He is still quick. He hasn't got a footballing brain playing at RB because that is not his strongest position. Play him along side a Dunne Collins, and he will have the confidence to perform. Ireland - Gained a big head when he was performing. He is confident, thats his personality, if he is cocky, and performing, i don't care, look at A Young, same type of thing. I just don't like cocky players that are performing bad. He 23, playing in a side like Villa will improve him as a player, and may even ground him a bit Noble - Sidwell or Noble? I think ill take Noble please. I remember he was likened to a young Parker when he 1st burst on to the pitch. I know players can have a reputation and then flutter (Moore brothers), but he's far from average. Cattermole - Similar to NRC, holds, tackles, plays within himself by not playing the Alonso ball.

Ready made team for me? Yes, Bent and Defoe are not going to be at Villa next season, for different reasons, cost and location stands out as obvious reasons. So your point is replace Heskey with Fuller, who, yes, is better, but will last a season or two and then we have to look for a slightly better player than Fuller to replace him? Im not saying we need a team full of youth, we have Friedel, Dunner, L Young, Petrov, Carew who have been around for a number of years at good clubs. I'm just not the type of person that wants us to buy a player for 2 seasons, for us to replace them because they are getting on. Why would you not take Fletcher but take Fuller? Thats a genuine question as i would like to know your answer

Yes, if we were a team really struggling for defenders. Dunne, Collins, Cuellar, Davies, Clark. I think thats enough is it not? If l Young leaves Cuellar is our RB. Davies (if rumours are correct) wants out. Which leaves Dunne, Colins and the untried Clark. We may very well need defensive cover. If L Young leaves, we should get Nathaniel Clyne If Davies leaves, we should get Richards or Onouha That would leave Dunne, Collins, Onouha, Clark as CB and Cuellar as well. I just can't understand why we would want a player that is 30 sitting in the bench, when we could have a prospect, or someone for the future, that will feature the season after this, as apposed to being in the same situation as this season where we have to replace players!

I'd add O'Hara and Kevin Prince Boateng to that list. If we are going to lose a few squad players this summer, it's better that we replace them with better squad players. Both good players yes. I like the way O'Hara has come out and said, he'll stay at Spurs if he is giving a chance. The lad wants to play football, he obviously loves the game, and the fame and money that comes with it, is a bonus, not the other way around like some players. A few names i forgot was N'Zogbia Foster (I know he had virtually signed for Blues but he shows signs of being an excellent prospect, not as much as Hart, and yes he makes mistakes, but still very good)

Yes, if we were a team really struggling for defenders. Dunne, Collins, Cuellar, Davies, Clark. I think thats enough is it not?

I hate the fact that people would start to bring up players like Fuller. In Jan, players like Kevin Davies and James Beattie were mentioned. FFS were are trying to get into the CL, players like the above are not scoring week in week out against PL teams, so how are they going to improve us? One man that has scored well in a poor side, in his 1st season in the PL, and is young enough to grow, is Stephen Fletcher. He won't be top quality tomorrow, but a couple of years and he will be a top PL striker. I understand we have Heskey who is a donkey, thats why he needs to go and we need to replace with a striker that will make a statement of intention. Look how City got publicised at the start of the season after they made all the statements they did, yes, i know they are only as good as us at the moment, but, with their squad the way it is, it is only a matter of time a gap appears between us and them. We need to bring in players that are going to be good enough for us to keep next season if we make the jump in to the CL, and not be in the same situation as we are in this season, where we have players that are good, and will prove they are capable of playing PL, but are just got good enough to play where we need to be playing, in the CL. Fletcher Richards Ireland Noble Cattemole All young, show promise, have a bit about them, and can do well. Im not saying bring them all into the 1st XI, bleed them in, and they will do well.

In that case I don't see why Tevez don't leave Man City for someone like Forest. Forest have a better history therefore are better. Not saying Man City are a bigger club but well at the moment, they are. I agree. Please don't start sounding like the pricks in Liverpool that say they should be playing class football and have the best footballers in the world because of their history. It is what happens today that matters. Can i see him going? No. 1) MoN will snub it. 2) Randy will listen to MoN. 3) I think JM is loyal enough to try and get us to the next step (CL) If he goes, i wouldn't take money alone. Ireland, Richards, Onuoha, Hart all to be in contention for a swap + money deal.

Offering Onucha week in week out football is impossible at this moment in time, as the defence is probably our strongest area. He would be a good addition as he can play CB and RB. Doyle won't come to Villa for 7m. They paid 6m for him, and plus he's guaranteed football every week. I like the thought of Ireland and Scharner. I just can't help thinking that MoN will need to rotate his squad if he is going to buy these type of players. Does anyone know wether he rotated at Celtic, as this could be an indication as to wether or not this is part of his skills.

Boyd (free) Scharner (free) Keane (7-8m) N'Zogbia (4-5m) Onucha (3-4m) There again, the above players are players that I have heard of and carry a decent reputation. Who thought Collins was going to be the defender he has turned out to be? Hopefully MoN can come up with a couple of signings like that this summer.

Very true. Quality, quality player IMO. Could store a lot more goals if he had good service and was in a winning team. ITK - Wenger is looking at both Doyle and Long (Reading). Scouts have been to numerous games this season. My ITK comes from Reading as they have a sell on clause in Dayles contract and still won Long. 11.5m is a near figure for Doyle i've heard. Wenger is looking at Long? WTF?! Dont shoot the messenger. Wether it happens is the question. I've been told Long has been looked at, as well as Doyle. Long, in all fairness, is probably better than Reading, but nowhere near good enough to play for the likes of Arsenal

Very true. Quality, quality player IMO. Could store a lot more goals if he had good service and was in a winning team. ITK - Wenger is looking at both Doyle and Long (Reading). Scouts have been to numerous games this season. My ITK comes from Reading as they have a sell on clause in Dayles contract and still won Long. 11.5m is a near figure for Doyle i've heard. Wenger is looking at Long? WTF?! Dont shoot the messenger. Wether it happens is the question. I've been told Long has been looked at, as well as Doyle. Long, in all fairness, is probably better than Reading, but nowhere near good enough to play for the likes of Arsenal