Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Gaztonniller on June 24, 2011, 01:05:49 AM
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So now that Ashley has departed to newer pastures there's that little matter of trying to fill the void left.
Being positive, sometimes when influencials player leave, it creates opportunity for other players to come forth and take up the reins. Eg Rnaldo leaving Man U saw Rooney become more prominent, Henry leaving saw Adebayor blossom, or even teams are forced to adopt a whole new approach entirely when no longer reliant on one central figure. When Ferguson wasnt leading Evertons front line, i always thought they played better footy.
So for next season down VP, who or what for you can make Ash a distant memory.
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Good question.
I'd go for adam Johnson and Hoilett. Johnson in the right of the attacking 3 in a 433 and downing on the left. The understudies being Albrighton (right) and Hoilett (left)
It might cost us a few bob more than the money received for Young but I think we'd be ready, or more ready for Downing's departure next year with these two.
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Do you really think Adam Johnson would leave Citeh and the CL for Villa? He would be a great signing but just cant see it happening.
I'd like us to get N'Zogbia, Adam, a rejuvenated Ireland, plus a strong ball winning midfielder...that would give us options in the midfield. AM has stated that he would like to see Gabby and Bent play together so I think we'll be more 442 than 433.
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As others have said, 442 wont suit Ireland. I cant see the Gabby, Bent partnership working as neither are comfortable playing with a partner.
New keeper
new right back (walker), Dunne, Clark, Warnock
----------------Reo Coker------------Delph
Albrighton-------Ireland-------------Downing
-------------Bent------------------
Potentially a good side but Clark and Albrighton might struggle a bit next season as often young players do. Useful to have Collins as back up for centre half but we seem to have little options out wide. Ireland in a few fleeting International appearances did alright on the right of midfield so he could be an option there at times if we wanted Gabby to come in or Makoun.
A lot of buts though - Stephen Ireland a complete looney tune, noone knows how that will go, warnock hopefully we can get a reasonable season from. Walker hasnt signed neither has Reo Coker. Plus we dont have a keeper yet.
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As others have said, 442 wont suit Ireland. I cant see the Gabby, Bent partnership working as neither are comfortable playing with a partner.
New keeper
new right back (walker), Dunne, Clark, Warnock
----------------Reo Coker------------Delph
Albrighton-------Ireland-------------Downing
-------------Bent------------------
Potentially a good side but Clark and Albrighton might struggle a bit next season as often young players do. Useful to have Collins as back up for centre half but we seem to have little options out wide. Ireland in a few fleeting International appearances did alright on the right of midfield so he could be an option there at times if we wanted Gabby to come in or Makoun.
A lot of buts though - Stephen Ireland a complete looney tune, noone knows how that will go, warnock hopefully we can get a reasonable season from. Walker hasnt signed neither has Reo Coker. Plus we dont have a keeper yet.
i like this!
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I get very nervous when i read AM is saying that we are going to bring the kids on, that says to me there is no big money to be spent and Randy is looking for an exit. Last season we had to rely on the kids and although they tried they just were not up to it as our losses piled up. It was only when semior players became fit that we improved. Very worried.
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Stephen Ireland a complete looney tune, noone knows how that will go
Unfortunately, I think we already know! :(
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I get very nervous when i read AM is saying that we are going to bring the kids on, that says to me there is no big money to be spent and Randy is looking for an exit. Last season we had to rely on the kids and although they tried they just were not up to it as our losses piled up. It was only when semior players became fit that we improved. Very worried.
I think we will spend only the money to come back from player sales. It is worrying and Id prefer if Lerner was showing up at fan forums than McLeish. But then again Cuellar, Petrov, Heskey, Beye, Warnock are probably all up for sale if the right offer comes in. Will release more funds. I think those five can go to be honest but we need experienced players to come in too.
McLeish badly needs a big signing to get fans back on side and reassure the current staff that they arent retreating as a club that sees top 10 as success.
I think Given would be a good one to kick things off. The English market seems crazy at the moment, maybe he can find a gem from elsewhere.
As for the youths, this is a huge season for Delph. He came to us with a lot of hype, has shown class in flashes and has had injuries but this is his time to nail down a spot in midfield. Thought Reo Coker and himself both played well against Bolton that day and could possibly be our partnership next season.
If Gary Gardner is anywhere near as good as the hype about him suggests then it could be a breakthrough season for him too.
Id have worries about Clark at centre half as he has no recovery speed. Really think like Barry his best place will be midfield but hopefully he can push on.
Albrighton had a breakthrough season last time out but as often with young players didnt finish it too well and has a long way to go too. Might be a bit much to expect him to be first choice from the start next season.
I dont rate Bannan as highly as others here but if we stay away from 442 then he can have an impact.
I really think Hogg, Baker, Lichaj, Delfouneso are squad players for us - think Houllier did them a favour by sending them on loan and if 1 or 2 of them even came through it would be great.
Question marks over Makoun and Ireland aswell.
Huge job for McLeish but he is incredibly lucky to have been given such a chance anyway
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N'Zogbia would be a good signing for us I think he could a job for us he would fill the void left by Ashley Young.
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I hope we don't just decide right Gabby plays, 4-4-2 is the way to go just to get him in the team. I think Young needs a like for like bought, and N'Zogbia is the closest thing out there to it. Young gets bums off seats. Without him we will be very 1 dimensional IMO.
If the Eck comments are straight up about no money, then 14-10th will be about as good as we will manage as we need a good keeper, creative mid and winger, before the full back areas need addressing.
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scott sinclair looks a decent shout!
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How about a 4-4-2 with the front 6 looking like this:-
Albrighton - new DCM - Delph - Downing
- Gabby - Bent -
What you then get is retaining the width and also having Gabby up top where he's best and will get us 10-15 a season, which along side Bent's expected 20ish would be a top partnership. Delph does the box to box job as he has the energy and ability and should get 5-10 if a regular 1st choice.
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scott sinclair looks a decent shout!
Always rated him, he'd be a lot cheaper than N'Zogbia.
No matter though, we won't be signing either.
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Replacing Ash with N'Zogbia would be a good move. Not replacing him (doesn't have to be like for like, I mean with another creative player) would be asking for trouble.
We had an enormous amount of.business to do before we sold Young. We've got even more now.
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A few players we have been linked with of late who may or may not be capable of filling the Ashley Young vacancy :
ANDRES GUARDADO ( Mexico )
ELIJERO ELIA ( S.V.Hamburg / Holland Intl )
I,ve watched some vids of Guardado , he looks the biz , cracking volleyed goal against Costa Rica .
Elia seems more ' like for like ' compared with Young , overall , given the choice ( as if ! ) I,d go for Guardado ......Godzvilla!
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Like Paulie says, it dose'nt have to be like for like. Someone like Adam can do all the things Ash used to, take corners, free kicks, pens and he can pass the ball as well.
As for a direct replacement, i've not seen much of Sinclair to comment. N'Zogbia would be the obvious replacement, and there's SWP, who has'nt played a lot of football in the last few years who may do well again given more games.
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I think SWP is pretty much a spent force these days.
As I said, if it's 442, and Downing stays, we don't need a direct replacement.
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As others have said, 442 wont suit Ireland. I cant see the Gabby, Bent partnership working as neither are comfortable playing with a partner.
IMO Bent was at his best for Sunderland when he played alongside Kenwyne Jones and i'd like to see a Agbonlahor/Bent partnership given a chance.As for replacing Young i'd much rather Albrighton was given his chance than sign another winger
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Front 6 options - Home 4-4-2:
------------------------------Petrov/NRC---------------------------------
Albrighton----------------------------------------------Downing/N'zogbia
--------------------------Delph/Makoun/Bannan
-----------------------------Bent-----------Gabby/Fonz--------------------
or away from home 4-5-1:
----------------------------Makoun-----------Petrov/NRC-----------------
Albrighton--------------------------------------------------Downing/Nzogbia
--------------------------------Delph/Bannan-------------------
----------------------------------------Bent-----------------------------------
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I said yesterday, We've cleared over 12 players off the wage bill, big players such as Friedel, Young, Carew, NRC, Pires.
I think we can afford to splash out on a couple of marquee signings, nzogbia would be a good start, if we fill the team with steady eddies I will not be impressed
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David Junior Hoilett from Blackburn. He's going to be a cracking player.
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Front 6 options - Home 4-4-2:
------------------------------Petrov/NRC---------------------------------
Albrighton----------------------------------------------Downing/N'zogbia
--------------------------Delph/Makoun/Bannan
-----------------------------Bent-----------Gabby/Fonz--------------------
this for me too
or away from home 4-5-1:
----------------------------Makoun-----------Petrov/NRC-----------------
Albrighton--------------------------------------------------Downing/Nzogbia
--------------------------------Delph/Bannan-------------------
----------------------------------------Bent-----------------------------------
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I hope the board realise that losing Young is a blow. And that who they replace him with (directly or indirectly) needs to be inspiring. I think they know it and will act on it.
Personally, I'd go with Adam to do all the set piece and creative duties that Young had but also go for the next up and coming star, the next Young, and that might possibly be Alex Oxtail-Marmalade Chamberlain.
Another consideration is that we have a couple of outstanding wingers in the youth teams but a couple of years away at least from consideration.
The other thing we could do is get Samwell Sturridge and use him as a winger and a striker.
Take the Young cash and make Villas-Boas an offer he'd find hard to refuse (because he'll buy Falcao).
I'd also be happy with N'Zogbia.
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Matt Phillips from Blackpool would be a decent option. A bit diffferent to our other 'wirey' wingers. 6'1" and a quick, powerful lad.
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I get very nervous when i read AM is saying that we are going to bring the kids on, that says to me there is no big money to be spent and Randy is looking for an exit. Last season we had to rely on the kids and although they tried they just were not up to it as our losses piled up. It was only when semior players became fit that we improved. Very worried.
I disagree I think the senior players should be held accountable for the losses not the kids. If they were showing form and not making stupid errors then the likes of Delph, Bannan, Clark & Albrighton would have less pressure. Lot of individual errors from Warnock, Dunne, Friedel and Collins didnt help and cost a lot of points. Doubtful we could get A.Johnson or Hoilett so we will prob have to look abroad in all honesty. Young definately needs replacing though in case of loss of form/ inury to Albrighton.
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I think McLeish has alluded to different playing styles at home and away. This could mean our front 6 at home being:-
Albrighton Makoun Delph Downing
Agbonlahor Bent
But away it could be:-
Albrighton Makoun Delph Downing
Ireland
Bent
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We handled losing Barry, we didn't really handle losing Milner, losing Young should be the hint the board need to go out and spend big. Otherwise we'll really struggle.
Albrighton has huge potential but we can't expect him to replace our most creative outlet just yet. He made far too many unforced errors last year, he's still learning.
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Have you been on the sauce early Maz?
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Elia would be an extremely exciting signing. I think and hope, Albrighton will step into the void. He did well last year but will probably feel he could have done more especially in the 2nd half of the season and hopefully will shoulder the extra burden of responsibility.
I am still undecided on Charlie Adam. I cant say I watched him enough over 90 mins last year to really judge him. A lot of people who have watched him have said to me that he is a bit of a highlights player, he gives the ball away a lot because he is always looking for the champagne pass and that he struggles to get around the pitch for 90 mins.
But then you look at the goals and assists he got for a relegated team. His set piece delivery on its own is worth millions (as Fergie said).
If we do sign him, I cant wait to be able to actually hope for a goal from corners as opposed to Ashley skying it over to the opposite corner. If we have Adam delivering it into Dunne, Collins, Cuellar and Bent I could see us being a real threat from set pieces again,
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I get very nervous when i read AM is saying that we are going to bring the kids on, that says to me there is no big money to be spent and Randy is looking for an exit. Last season we had to rely on the kids and although they tried they just were not up to it as our losses piled up. It was only when semior players became fit that we improved. Very worried.
I disagree I think the senior players should be held accountable for the losses not the kids. If they were showing form and not making stupid errors then the likes of Delph, Bannan, Clark & Albrighton would have less pressure. Lot of individual errors from Warnock, Dunne, Friedel and Collins didnt help and cost a lot of points. Doubtful we could get A.Johnson or Hoilett so we will prob have to look abroad in all honesty. Young definately needs replacing though in case of loss of form/ inury to Albrighton.
You didn't pay attention, Warnock hardly played last year, and it was at the time when we had a lot of injuries including the two centre backs, you can't blame them for being injured.
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Watford are getting 15% which is a bit annoying. I'd recommend N'Zogbia to fill the void as his flair matches ash's own in my opinion and last season he showed the consistency that really let Ash down.
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Nzogbia would be the ideal replacement but I cant see him signing for us. Albrighton is the one who will be the direct replacement.
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Watford are getting 15% which is a bit annoying. I'd recommend N'Zogbia to fill the void as his flair matches ash's own in my opinion and last season he showed the consistency that really let Ash down.
They're getting 15% above £9,750,000.
So about a £1m of £17m.
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My choices would be Hoilett, Nzogbia, sinclair and someone who could play a similar role to the one that Ash played later on is Sturidge.
I would pay good money for him he can come off the left wing like he was doing in the u21s or play behind a main striker
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I would be happy with Nzogbia
But 2 things
he did the dirty on AM when he tried to sign him for Blues
Do we have they money??
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I dont think Blackburn will let Hoillet go as he is one of their hot prospects. Would Swansea let one of their star players, Sinclair, go when they have just been promoted? They would want some serious money for him. I dont think he is on Villa's radar.
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Not sure about Sinclair, Mr Fuse. Its all well and good scoring 20+ in the championship, but it about whether he can make the step up in the prem. Im reserving my judgement on him, plus the fact Swansea would want silly money for him.
Nzogbia would be my choice for £10m. Blackburn would probably want a fair bit for Hoilet too.
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Hoilet is tailored made for the role - been saying it for months
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N'zogbia will come in and we'll convince Downing to stay until January I reckon.
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Payet please.
Probably not much chance, but you never know. If Newcastle can buy up half the best players in France I don't see why we can't get involved.
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My nan could replace AY on set pieces.
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Someone from outside of the Premier League I hope. The Dutch lad someone mentioned on the transfer thread might be worth a look. Someone that we have sort of heard of but is a bit of a mystery would add excitement to the new season.
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This guy , he,s getting a lot of the early morning press but the source report ( Nu Sport ) seems speculative . He was voted the 2nd best player in the Dutch League last season ..............Godzvilla!
"New Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has set his sights on ADO Den Haag's Wesley Verhoek as he searches for a replacement for Ashley Young."
Full story: talkSPORT
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Rather than trying to replace Young like-for-like, I'd consider going for a change of emphasis.
I was thinking last night how we rarely see classy number 10 types in the premier league any more. I'm talking about the Carbones, Djorkaeffs, Juninhos, Litmanens etc...
I suppose Van Der Vaart falls into that category.
So how about Diego? His days look numbered at Wolfsburg but he remains a real class act. Juve paid £20m+ for him only 2 years ago. He's a player capable of transforming the Villa attack, is a good age, wouldn't cost the earth and has huge cult hero potential. And Bent would dine out on the defence splitting through-balls.
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Anyone think wolves could be tempted in letting Jarvis cross the divide without asking silly money.
He did well last season and may fancy the step up. Also Matty Etherington could do a job but he's getting on a bit now and was injured end of last season.
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Nathan Dyer looks excellent whenever I've seen him, fast as fuck and extremely direct, reminds me of Shaun Wright-Phillips when he first burst onto the scene, before he moved to Chelsea and ballsed up his career.
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In response to Redman, I think we need wingers to feed Darren Bent. Could we play a classy number 10 and Darren Bent? Would the classy number 10 do enough tracking back to account for Bent's tendency to hang around looking for a goal?
I think the premiership has changed a lot since the days of the Wing back and the 'player in the hole'. I loved Merson, Carbone etc but the pace seems different now, the most successful teams seem to use the 4-5-1/4-3-3 model.
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Needing to replace Downing and Young, with frankly sweet fuck all creativity through the middle, and no Reo Coker to win the ball, unless we pull our finger out we will be screwed next season.
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Losing Young (and possibly Downing) shouldn't kill us. It depends upon what the money is used for.
We bought them for reasonable prices once, we need to go out and do it again. If there is nothing out there right now, fine. Get a cheap stopgap or use what we already have. Spend the money in other positions where good there is genuine quality available.
What we shouldn't do is fund other clubs transfer activity by buying some half-name simply because that is the best available at the time.
The club has to stop spending in the Dunn/Warnock/Collins/Heskey sector of the market. It's an expensive way of maintaining mediocrity.
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Needing to replace Downing and Young, with frankly sweet fuck all creativity through the middle, and no Reo Coker to win the ball, unless we pull our finger out we will be screwed next season.
Agree with this, losing Downing looks nailed on, pretty much the core of the better squad built over the past 4/5 seasons is fast beginning to vanish, we will have to wait and see how capable AM is at assembling a squad and who he can convince we are of the right stuff, should be interesting if nothing else.