sturae229

me too, love this guy, but where will he play. TS has said he sees him as a number 10 and we haven't bought a new number 10 because TS wants to give Gil a chance, but we are playing 4-3-3 right now, so where does a 10 fit into that formation?

 

So we either play him RW in a 4-3-3 where he may not be at his best, or change our formation to 4-4-1-1 like against UTD and he plays behind a front man. 

 

My preference would be a 4-2-3-1. That way, when fit, we could include Jack and Adama wide of Gil, and then we are not over stretching in CM with Sanchez and Veretout on the bench offering cover.

THIS

4231 seems perfect for us right now. Gana and Westwood as the two, Gil, adama and Grealish behind the lone front man

I'm certainly not panicking about our striking options right now. How many chances have we created? Zilch... And there's a few reasons for that as other have mentioned.

If you look at our starting line up from Friday I don't see how Ayew or Gabby could be blamed with the players they had behind them. Either brand new, out of position or just not that creative footballers. Judge the strikers when they have opportunities to impact football matches, and this will come when Gil, Grealish and Adama are involved

I don't think we can be critiquing Tim Sherwoods tactics this early in the season. So many of our players (pretty much all) are completely new and need time to play in this league and with these different players. You can't just throw them all together and they will play to their abilities like on *shudder* FIFA 2015.

This is real life and there's a lot of things that come in to play that may a team gel and things to click.

We have had an amazing window so far, I think we can all agree with that and with a squad now bustling with different options and prospects it's certainly going to be an interesting season.

Tim doesn't know his best team yet, and neither do we... After Xmas we will start to see what the new AstonVilla looks like and I think we'll be just fine

Just watching that video, in only three games he looked worlds away from our team. Superb footballer, hopefully he will get his chance to shine now

Wow what a guy, he's like Ashley Cole on acid.

Great footballer, outstanding buy for us.

Incredible how with just him and Richards we look so much better at the back.

He's massively off the pace of the premier league right now. I don't think we will see the best of him until after Xmas... Going to take time. Aye too who was equally poor last night.

Just need time

It's all going to change anyway when Gealish, Gil and then Traore get involved. We have played 442 so far. That's going to change I think, be more flexible and have more options. We will know more about his ability in the new year

We don't know any real details of this buyback clause. I would imagine that this is probably quite common when dealing with Barca, but I wonder just how often they exercise their rights?

There is the possibility that Barca buy the player back just to sell him again for a profit, but surely the player gets a say in this too?

Anyway, I don't really care. I just hope he's a great success here at Aston Villa.

They do buy back former players, Jordi Alba and Aleix Vidal being recent examples. However this is usually many years later and for mega bucks rather than as a buy back deal. When it comes to the first team Barcelona only buy world class players full stop so if they want him they will have done well out of the deal. I'd also imagine the fee would see us amply compensated.

I cannot think of a single example of them buying back a former player to sell on for a profit. I dont think that will happen.

It does happen though - which is why Alderwield (or whatever) is at Spurs now instead of Saints.

He was loaned to Southampton with an agreement to buy in place, but that agreement was severed and Saints compensated as he was worth so much more money than the agreed price.

You are right but what's the difference really between that and our arrangement with Barca?

Ok Saints got surprised buttsecks - all we've done is agreed to it in principle within a time period.

Anyway enough of this. Lets just agree to enjoy him whilst we've got him.

I just think that Barca's incentive is to protect themselves from losing a potentially world class player to a direct rival, via Aston Villa. I don't think they need the money in the same way as Atletico just to mess with lil ol' Aston Villa.

Plus, we have no idea what price they supposedly agreed upon should they wish to buy him back.

Just my opinion, but I think they've got bigger fish to fry than to be messing around with this player if he becomes merely 'very good'. He'll have to be attracting the attention of the very top teams for them to step in IMO.

We don't know any real details of this buyback clause. I would imagine that this is probably quite common when dealing with Barca, but I wonder just how often they exercise their rights?

There is the possibility that Barca buy the player back just to sell him again for a profit, but surely the player gets a say in this too?

Anyway, I don't really care. I just hope he's a great success here at Aston Villa.

They do buy back former players, Jordi Alba and Aleix Vidal being recent examples. However this is usually many years later and for mega bucks rather than as a buy back deal. When it comes to the first team Barcelona only buy world class players full stop so if they want him they will have done well out of the deal. I'd also imagine the fee would see us amply compensated.

I cannot think of a single example of them buying back a former player to sell on for a profit. I dont think that will happen.

It does happen though - which is why Alderwield (or whatever) is at Spurs now instead of Saints.

He was loaned to Southampton with an agreement to buy in place, but that agreement was severed and Saints compensated as he was worth so much more money than the agreed price.

You are right but what's the difference really between that and our arrangement with Barca?

Ok Saints got surprised buttsecks - all we've done is agreed to it in principle within a time period.

Anyway enough of this. Lets just agree to enjoy him whilst we've got him.

I just think that Barca's incentive is to protect themselves from losing a potentially world class player to a direct rival, via Aston Villa. I don't think they need the money in the same way as Atletico just to mess with lil ol' Aston Villa.

Plus, we have no idea what price they supposedly agreed upon should they wish to buy him back.

Just my opinion, but I think they've got bigger fish to fry than to be messing around with this player if he becomes merely 'very good'. He'll have to be attracting the attention of the very top teams for them to step in IMO.

We don't know any real details of this buyback clause. I would imagine that this is probably quite common when dealing with Barca, but I wonder just how often they exercise their rights?

There is the possibility that Barca buy the player back just to sell him again for a profit, but surely the player gets a say in this too?

Anyway, I don't really care. I just hope he's a great success here at Aston Villa.

They do buy back former players, Jordi Alba and Aleix Vidal being recent examples. However this is usually many years later and for mega bucks rather than as a buy back deal. When it comes to the first team Barcelona only buy world class players full stop so if they want him they will have done well out of the deal. I'd also imagine the fee would see us amply compensated.

I cannot think of a single example of them buying back a former player to sell on for a profit. I dont think that will happen.

It does happen though - which is why Alderwield (or whatever) is at Spurs now instead of Saints.

He was loaned to Southampton with an agreement to buy in place, but that agreement was severed and Saints compensated as he was worth so much more money than the agreed price.

You are right but what's the difference really between that and our arrangement with Barca?

Ok Saints got surprised buttsecks - all we've done is agreed to it in principle within a time period.

Anyway enough of this. Lets just agree to enjoy him whilst we've got him.

I just think that Barca's incentive is to protect themselves from losing a potentially world class player to a direct rival, via Aston Villa. I don't think they need the money in the same way as Atletico just to mess with lil ol' Aston Villa.

Plus, we have no idea what price they supposedly agreed upon should they wish to buy him back.

Just my opinion, but I think they've got bigger fish to fry than to be messing around with this player if he becomes merely 'very good'. He'll have to be attracting the attention of the very top teams for them to step in IMO.

We have bought Traore. Paid money outright for him.

Barcelona have included a clause to say... "If we fancy him back within 3 years we may come knocking" or "if you try to sell him to someone else, you need to let us know first in case we want him"

We OWN the rights to the player.

If he gets even close to the level required for Barca to want him back he would have been outrageously good for us and as others have said, will have helped us up the table massively. This isn't the 80s, it's modern football In 2015, players rarely stay at one club for any significant amount of time, especially if they are great players. Money dictates that

Anyway, I digress...

Amazing signing with so much potential, can't remember the last time we had a player to be excited about every time he gets the ball!!!!

So much positivity around the club right now, so exciting!

Displace? I know we beat Bournemouth but we didn't exactly play well. Not going forward anyway.

He shouldn't have to perform that well to oust Gabby and Sinclair from the team. Gil, Adama, Grealish are going to be our creative outlets this season in the final third, Veretout and Gana should be able to get involved too

We love an evening announcement... It's happening...

Like Amavi and Veretout which we were panicking about too!

So what's going on with this the new? He signing or not?

On loan it would be possible I think.

If we bring in Adebayor i think stocked in attack.

A new CB is essential for this season

You look like the guy from Gaslight Anthem which makes me like you even more. Welcome to Aston Villa and my fantasy league team.

Haha that's what I thought

Delighted with this one

I have 'Great Expectations'

seriously way past Gay now !!!

*Gueye

If he's wearing a Villa shirt I'd be happy seeing him do anything

Yes very true, he looks made for English football. We are definitely going to have a better starting 11 and overall square as far as 'quality' is concerned.

Exciting times.

So excited for this to happen. Him and Amavi particularly look to be special talents

I think if Baker goes and we get another centre back in we are all set for a positive season.

We have been a mess for so long now, this rip it up and start again approach can only be a good thing, even if only half the signings are successful!

Oh my oh my.

Oh my oh my.

Haha sorry.

I'm just agonising over the lack of Veretout news

I apologise gents

A moderator needs to get a grip of this. Zero to do with the player

Booooo bad form that

I think after Trents comments it's safe to say he is meeting with us today.

Is he also meeting with Leicester and/or Southamptoon?! That's entirely possible.

It feels a lot like the Amavi deal for me, which went on for what seemed like ages, was all very quiet with some stuff in the French press... And then... BOOM he's holding the shirt

Fingers crossed

yeh i have it installed now but cant seem to find the editor anywhere??? any ideas??

iv looked through the steam folders and found fm 2012 but there is no 'tools' or editor for that matter!

help!

thanks

haha

well happy with shay. IMHO better than friedel and an improvement in hat regard. lets get some wing wizards in like n zgo and co and we will be on a roll. i'm also expecting big things from ste ireland and makoun this year! mark my words!

U would swap that central midfield for ours?

It's all very well saying we can get better for 20m, same with the Ashley 16/17m

But where ?

Lets not forget we sold Milner for 18m (and Ireland) and that money never found us a central midfielder to fill the gaping hole it left in the side

Money is all very well in the bank, but it's what you do with it that matters. And I cannot for the life of me see which two players we'll bring in that will be even equal talent wise to Downing & Young, never mind better than them.

Maybe that's just me.

You do talk a lot of sense ulver but we almost got relegated with both of them in the team?

i hope we do/can spend the money on some good wide players and n'zogbia would be a good start. At the end of the day neither Gabby or bent are known for there aerial ability so doesnt matter too much if he don't sign any wing wizards! ha.

i realize i am contradicting myself but where do we go from here?