Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: warleyboy on August 16, 2015, 11:40:54 AM
-
It has been an amazing window, I cannot remember the last time I have been so happy with my beloved club.
But, if this was it, no more players to be brought in, is it enough to get us through the season.
I'm going to have to say no, I really feel, we need a RB and hoping TS has someone in mind.
I feel with Gil and Grealish to come back we will be match all over the park for most teams, I just see the RB spot as a weak link.
-
We need another forward. Then I'll be satisfied (depending on who it is, obviously).
-
Surely it is a question to ask after it closes and even then it's premature. If this side gels and comes together we can look back and say it was exactly what was needed. Hopefully that's the case, but it is way too early to make a call either way.
-
I think we're a top class forward away from having a very decent squad.
-
I'll answer in 2 weeks time.
-
Right Back & Centre Forward please
-
Even if we don't sign another player it's been better than I ever expected it to be
-
Two posts above sum it up for me. Good window as it is, but still could ideally do with a top class RB and forward. And i am sure the money must be there if any become available. Not only did we get the Delph and Benteke money, but we must have stripped a hell of a lot of the wage bill with them, and Vlaar, Bent, Weimann and Given going.
-
Obviously way too soon to be judging the players themselves as most of them are new to the PL. However Richards already looks at least as good as Vlaar on a good day, Amavi looks a real find, Guye and Gestede promising. In terms of intent and approach it's the most promising window for quite some time. However as yet I'd say not quite enough to really impress me, and I'd hope it's not quite over. The club have reinvested the 45m or so funds brought in from sales - but only about about 3-4m on top of that. I'd say we still need a Right back in the mould of Amavi, another solid experienced centre back, a keeper to put pressure on or upgrade Guzan, and maybe a proven goalscorer. I still think Adebayor could do a job on loan if Levy isn't going to be too much of a twat over the finances. With the huge TV money at stake next year I'd hope to see net spend of at least 20m-25m to aim for a really solid all round squad.
-
Undecided. Villa have become like a teenager in possession of both birthday and xmas money and cannot wait to spend it, far too earlxy to tell whether all this quantity will deliver on quality.
-
Time will tell. It will be a good window as long as the new players are better than what we had. Shouldn't be difficult.
-
Cant understand the clamour for another forward.
Sherwood got it badly wrong pairing Gabby and Ayew up front together but that shouldnt mean we go off and spend more money on forward players.
A coherent plan re how to get the best out of the players we do have would be far more valuable.
Gestede will be our main striker and he should have three supporting him.
For the central striker we have Gestede with Ayew, Gabby, Kozak as options
For the supporting forward roles we have Traore, Gil, Grealish, Sinclair, Gabby, Ayew and at a stretch Cole, Richardson and Nzog
So unless we can start shifting some of these in the next two weeks then I dont think we need to be adding more in these positions.
Midfield we look a bit tighter, looks as if 2 from 3 of Westwood, Sanchez and Gueye will always play.
Richardson may be an option here but not a great one lets be honest, dont think its going to happen for Gary Gardner.
-
Put a bid in for Berahino - if we can sign him it'll have been a great window. Still need another forward.
-
A forward, right back and possibly a centre half are required, but I'm happy overall.
-
What is "a good window" ? I keep seeing this phrase but can't quite understand how a window can be described as good if the players purchsed have yet to prove whether they are any good or not.
-
Forward, Right back and a center-back. One more central midfielder if we have time, as it appears GG is not fancied. An injury one of our central mids could leave us light.
But honestly, if the window ended now, I'd still be satisfied. We're possibly going to need to sign home grown if we sign anyone else. That of course limits the options available and quality, and indeed could prove pricey.
-
I think it's time to rest on more signings and consolidate. It's inherently wrong to go on signing more players when we don't have a proper functioning cohesive team to judge better use of further scarce resource ...CASH! Let's get the team working now and look forward to January.
-
One striker in and I'll be fully satisfied. As it is I don't think there's enough goals in the side.
-
One striker in and I'll be fully satisfied. As it is I don't think there's enough goals in the side.
This.
-
What is "a good window" ? I keep seeing this phrase but can't quite understand how a window can be described as good if the players purchsed have yet to prove whether they are any good or not.
Absolutely.
Sky get tremendous stick on here for their transfer window shenanigans but it seems to be what gets folk excited, signings and links arent exciting for me, it's how they perform on the field and two games in, we don't know enough to say if we will struggle or not.
-
We've literally rebuilt a whole team on the back of selling our 2 best players, but even when Traore and Grealish come into the side, there is a genuine lack of goal threat up front...Gestede and Ayew are realistically our only threats going forward and they are both unproven, inexperienced and lack fitness.
My priorities would be...
1. CF (we simply don't have a proven dynamic natural goalscorer in the squad)
2. CB (we'll be right in the shit if Richards and/or Clark get injured with only Okore being decent backup)
3. RB (Bacuna, Hutton and Crespo should be enough there for now, but will need improving next summer)
4. GK (Guzan and Bunn deserve at least unil January to prove themselves)
Why should a striker be our number one priority? Its simple...if you don't score goals or look like scoring goals, then you don't win games...we simply haven't replaced the goals that Benteke would have scored and, even though its too early to judge the new midfield signings, theres no evidence to suggest that we'll improve our goalscoring contributions from midfield.
-
Still need , RB , CB, DCM, Striker.
Net spend is still minimal so I'd like investment in the above areas.
-
I satisfied that we have spent a decent amount of money and have a few good prospects. Whether those signings prove good enough to move us forward we will only know about half-way through the season. I think we could do with a right back too, maybe another striker.
-
Lescott, Afobe and Carroll in before the 2nd and I would be delighted. They would add 3 players who know English football well, 2 with really good potential to go with the others we have signed and round off the squad well. Gardner, Baker and Kozak out on loan until Christmas to build up matches and fitness, and 2-3 moved on permanently.
-
We don't really need a CB do we
We have Richards and Clark, with Okore and Baker as back ups
That's not even counting Senderos
So why are we desperate for a CB ?
-
I don't think we need a new RB if and only if we play in a way where the RB is not required to bomb forward and provide an attacking threat. In that case, Hutton is fine. This Traore might be good enough, assuming he plays on the right, to let the RB be more defensive.
Otherwise, good luck finding the right-footed Amavi!
-
One striker in and I'll be fully satisfied. As it is I don't think there's enough goals in the side.
Is that the answer? Not enough goals is a team issue. If we were playing as a cohesive team creating loads of chances then yes I agree another striker would be ideal but at the moment we need to get this team playing properly and consistently in a manner that creates chances and rest will follow.
-
For all the clamour for more signings, and I'd generally agree with the nervousness upfront and at RB, we must be approaching the point where more signings could do more harm than good.
One the loudest, and most justified complaints under Lambert was the lack of a discernible playing style. That's never going to evolve if we keep throwing new players into the team.
We should have enough about us now to keep clear of trouble, based purely on the technical ability of most of the players he's signed.
Unless there's a right footed Amavi out there that fancies sampling life in Brum, I'd be tempted to see how things settle down and address any clear issues in January.
-
We will learn more from the next 4 games as to what we do or don't need.
-
Still need , RB , CB, DCM, Striker.
Net spend is still minimal so I'd like investment in the above areas.
The defence has hardly looked error prone in the first two games has it? Defenders can wait until January, I've been happy with how Richards and Clark have looked as a duo so far.
Midfield we have enough there.
One centre forward for me and that should be it.
-
The priority is a goal scorer agree SHQ, the others are on a wish list for later .
-
I've gone for a striker, too.
But, do we go for a Gary Shaw type or an Andy Gray type centre forward as opposed to a Christian Benteke type centre forward?
I think Baccuna has done well in the role given to him. It has helped as Gueye (sp) seems to cover heck of a lot of ground defensively.
Baker and Okore are capable of slotting in at Centre back.
Guzan and Bunn are two very good keepers.
-
Of the positions mentioned in the poll:-
GK - an interesting one as TS did drop Brad. I think he could/will be replaced if and when a better keeper we could realistically get becomes available. Until then, I can't see anyone coming in just for the sake of it.
RB - personally happy here with a combination of Hutton and Bacuna dependent on whether the formation or opposition calls for attacking or defensive attributes. Probably one for next summer.
CB - we've got enough here and think Tim is happy with a Clark and Richards partnership.
Midfield - as with CB, I think we're OK and also already spent a fair bit of money here this summer.
Striker - here is where I think we are lacking real quality. I'd llove us to spend big here and really finish this squad off with a real top striker, but understand if that needs to wait for a later transfer window.
All in all, a very good window and we should be OK. Everything else is now either a 'nice to have' or what would take us from (hopefully!) being a mid table side to one challenging for Europe.
-
We just really need one of Gil and Grealish back. It will help out our forward immediately to have someone who will hold onto the ball and draw defenders out. And someone who can pick a pass. Grealish rarely loses the ball and hopefully he'll get even better this season.
-
Just a striker for me too
Hutton and Bacuna are decent options at right back
Richards and Clark are playing well at centre back, and a fully fit Okore will be pushing them all the way. Baker's a very good 4th choice.
Crespo can also cover both positions
Midfield is fine.. Sanchez, Westwood, Gueye, Vertout and Gardner are good options, especially if we play two deeper, with Gil or Grealish just in front of those
The good thing is we know Sherwood definitely wants a striker too, so the manager and fans are on the same page there
-
My only observation on Clark is, he's strong as an Ox and tackles well but he does make the odd howler and has a tendency to hoof the ball rather than look for a composed pass at times. Seeing him next to Micah Richards I think his faults get amplified. Ironically for the goal on Friday it was Richards who incorrectly went to ground yet Clarks deflection took it past a certain save for Guzan.
-
I am pleased with what we have done this transfer window assuming that Benteke leaving was a given.
I would be tempted to not buy anybody else and see how things go. I would be inclined to bring two in on loan. One would be striker so that Kozak could go out on loan and play regular football and one would be a left-sided central defender to allow Baker to go out on loan for the same reason as Kozak.
Sometimes you also get some free agents after the window closes. It may be possible to pick up an experienced player from Europe to give extra cover in defence.
-
Judging is what we do on the internet though, it don't hurt anyone, we all do it we get some right and some badly wrong
If you hold judgement on a player Untill the end of the season you arnt speculating or offering an opinion you are stateing the obvious, anyone can do that,
It's the same as people who say 'give him a chance' it's the bloody internet it doesn't really count, as long as they receive the full support on the pitch what Nigel from St. Albans says on a football forum means nothing
Unless they read it of course, then they might have feelings,
in which case I take full responsibility for the rubbish performances of NRC and N'zog because I don't think I've ever written anything good about them ever
-
I would be tempted to not buy anybody else and see how things go. I would be inclined to bring two in on loan. One would be striker so that Kozak could go out on loan and play regular football and one would be a left-sided central defender to allow Baker to go out on loan for the same reason as Kozak.
I can't see anybody coming in to be our 4th choice CB. If we did get a defender in on loan it'd need to be someone better than Clark to take his place.
-
Some cover at LB wouldn't go amiss. Very happy with the window though.
-
I would be tempted to not buy anybody else and see how things go. I would be inclined to bring two in on loan. One would be striker so that Kozak could go out on loan and play regular football and one would be a left-sided central defender to allow Baker to go out on loan for the same reason as Kozak.
I can't see anybody coming in to be our 4th choice CB. If we did get a defender in on loan it'd need to be someone better than Clark to take his place.
I would like to see Clark given a chance to make the position his own as it could save us a lot of money. There are experienced older players that move to clubs on loan and willing not to be 1st choice. The season is long and injuries and suspensions mean that few players play every game.
-
We've made some very astute purchases, but for me, we still definitely need another goalscoring option - and preferably a good one.
I can see lots of promise in various areas of this squad, but I still can't see where the goals are going to come from, and that's a worry.
-
It's been a bit like Christmas , you've unwrapped a load of presents , now there's a load of things to assemble , some rubbish to throw out and a bird in the other room waiting to be roasted.
-
We've made some very astute purchases, but for me, we still definitely need another goalscoring option - and preferably a good one.
I can see lots of promise in various areas of this squad, but I still can't see where the goals are going to come from, and that's a worry.
I do not think we are in a position to buy a proven goal scorer. By that I mean both financially and where we are seen by others to be in a football level sense. What we need is somebody that on their day is a £20m player. I think the loan route is the only way we will get this level of player and it buys us some time to see how others develop.
-
As it's turned out, i've gone from not wanting him to thinking someone like Adebayor for a year would be good for us. A bit like Regis was useful for a year back in 91/92.
-
I think we still need to lose a few.
In order of preference
Goal Scorer
Right Back
Central Mid
Goal Keeper
-
Just a striker. Charlie Austin would do nicely.
-
We've made some very astute purchases, but for me, we still definitely need another goalscoring option - and preferably a good one.
I can see lots of promise in various areas of this squad, but I still can't see where the goals are going to come from, and that's a worry.
Me too. Gestede looks a horses for courses player that will score goals, but we need an option in my opinion that makes the sort of runs that the likes of Gil, Grealish, Traore and Veretout should be able to pick out, while also being able to play off Gestede. I like the link to Afobe, I think he looks very good, but would not give us the proven option we may need.
-
We've made some very astute purchases, but for me, we still definitely need another goalscoring option - and preferably a good one.
I can see lots of promise in various areas of this squad, but I still can't see where the goals are going to come from, and that's a worry.
I do not think we are in a position to buy a proven goal scorer. By that I mean both financially and where we are seen by others to be in a football level sense. What we need is somebody that on their day is a £20m player. I think the loan route is the only way we will get this level of player and it buys us some time to see how others develop.
We won't get a proven goal scorer on loan, though.
The reason for the loan is to develop the player for the host club.
-
It's been a bit like Christmas , you've unwrapped a load of presents , now there's a load of things to assemble , some rubbish to throw out and a bird in the other room waiting to be roasted.
We're not Chelsea.
Sorry
-
We've made some very astute purchases, but for me, we still definitely need another goalscoring option - and preferably a good one.
I can see lots of promise in various areas of this squad, but I still can't see where the goals are going to come from, and that's a worry.
I do not think we are in a position to buy a proven goal scorer. By that I mean both financially and where we are seen by others to be in a football level sense. What we need is somebody that on their day is a £20m player. I think the loan route is the only way we will get this level of player and it buys us some time to see how others develop.
We won't get a proven goal scorer on loan, though.
The reason for the loan is to develop the player for the host club.
Or in the case of Adebeyor or similar (Bent for us last season etc.) is to get him, at least partially, off the wage bill.
-
I'd still like us to go for Phillips and Austin from QPR.
-
We have three strikers at the club, Gestede, Kozak and Ayew plus some forward type attacking players
if we bought in a established striker say Austin, why would we have bought in Ayew and Gestede, they won't develop sitting on the bench, we spent good money on them both surely they were bought to play not just act as back up,
I think they are the forwards we go with now,
-
Every squad in the world could just do with another player or two. Ask any manager or supporter and they'll tell you the same.
The business so far looks to be bloody brilliant to me, we've recruited pretty much a full team already. We'd all like another striker, but tell me a time when we didn't?
-
I also think we need a striker.
Gabby is as much use as tits on a nun, and Gestede is seemingly an out and out target man. With Ayew going to take time to get up to speed, we really could do with another option.
That said, I think it's been a great window overall, and Amavi in particular looks to be a sensational bit of business.
A striker, right back and a new keeper and I think we've got a decent mid table squad.
-
I think we've got a decent mid table squad as things stand.
-
We have three strikers at the club, Gestede, Kozak and Ayew plus some forward type attacking players
if we bought in a established striker say Austin, why would we have bought in Ayew and Gestede, they won't develop sitting on the bench, we spent good money on them both surely they were bought to play not just act as back up,
I think they are the forwards we go with now,
Ayew isn't an out and out striker, and Gestede has come from the championship.
I don't mean they're not going to do it at this level, I just think relying on them to do it would be risky.
I suspect Tim doesn't like the look of Kozak, given his recent disappearance, so think we will see some movement.
-
I think we still desperately need a centre-back. Friday's match highlighted that for me. The free-kick in the first half where half our back-line were either ball-watching or staring into space showed that we really need some leadership back there. Richards may well turn-out to be a good signing, but it's too much to expect him to to be organising the back-line, whilst learning the position himself. Clark's never shown any really sign of being a good organiser, either. Would still very much like to see Lescott come in to play alongside Richards.
I'd also still be looking for another keeper to come-in and really push Guzan. Apparently Lindegaard is available on a free and I've always thought looked good when given games at Utd.
-
OK ill go against the trend on this one but....I dont think I want any more in. We really have flooded the squad with new blood and I think now is the time to see what they can do. We now have 2,3,4 options in every position. The lads that have come in are mainly young and will hopefully be here for 3+ years.
I think we have enough to be comfortably safe and even spending more money would probably only push us up a couple of places...this season should be treated as the foundation year for the new Aston Villa.
I think there are alot of players with question marks over their heads at the moment. Before we spend any more lets see if Bunn, Bennett, Okore, Baker, Crespo, Gardner, Veretout, Ayew, Kozak, Cole and Agbonlahor can offer the level of performance week in week out to take us to the next level.
Completely unintentional but that is feasibly a team we could put out. Due to either being new or being unlucky with managers/injury I dont think we have seen the best of any of the above.
Sign anyone else in their positions and most of those wont get a chance. Id like to see just how good Ray/Tim are at getting players firing before we throw more money at the squad
-
Before we spend any more lets see if Bunn, Bennett, Okore, Baker, Crespo, Gardner, Veretout, Ayew, Kozak, Cole and Agbonlahor can offer the level of performance week in week out to take us to the next level.
Completely unintentional but that is feasibly a team we could put out.
I've got to be honest - I think that team would struggle in the Championship, let alone the top flight.
I can see your point about letting the new signings settle and gel now, but i really think it would be risky to go into the new season with 4 questionable and injury-prone centre-backs, as we currently have.
-
We need a striker desperately.
-
Something worth considering is that there could be a lot of movement in the transfer window this last few weeks for a lot of clubs, where as we've already done most of (if not all) our activity with the players now getting time to train and gel. An example of this being Pulis stating that Baggies will be having a lot of ins and outs (emphasis on the "a lot") over the next few weeks, and they'll need time to gel whilst the season is in progress...if that is the case, then we may well have a more settled and balanced team by the time we come to play them.
-
We need a striker desperately.
we just bought two, lost one and another back from long term injury
-
I can't get over that most of you are happy with Bacuna/Hutton & Crespo backing each other up
-
I'm delighted with the window so far. I also don't think goal scoring will be a problem - we have some fantastic creative players and plenty who can knock it in.
Anyway, I'll leave that to Tim.
If I had one player to bring in it would be a defender.
-
I can't get over that most of you are happy with Bacuna/Hutton & Crespo backing each other up
I like Bacuna, and Hutton is a polar opposite sort of defender a bit tougher (dirtier) and harder and a lot better than he was
Crespo, no idea about him yet
I don't think we have a desperate need there
-
I'm delighted with the window so far. I also don't think goal scoring will be a problem - we have some fantastic creative players and plenty who can knock it in.
Anyway, I'll leave that to Tim.
If I had one player to bring in it would be a defender.
i'm hoping the goals will come when Gestede, Kozak and Ayew are getting supplied by Gill, Grealish and the new boy Traore
-
I'm delighted with the window so far. I also don't think goal scoring will be a problem - we have some fantastic creative players and plenty who can knock it in.
Anyway, I'll leave that to Tim.
If I had one player to bring in it would be a defender.
i'm hoping the goals will come when Gestede, Kozak and Ayew are getting supplied by Gill, Grealish and the new boy Traore
Plenty of talent listed there and I also don't think the league is as good as many suggest.
-
We need a striker desperately.
we just bought two, lost one and another back from long term injury
Exactly.
We're ok for numbers upfront, hence our need isn't desperate, but a lot of unknown quantities, so that one proven goal scorer would be great.
As it is now, I can see the goals being spread around this season as I doubt we gave that singular goal machine in the squad.
-
If Traore is actually as good as he looks like he could be, then theres going to be a lot of PL defenders and midfielders shitting themselves at the prospect of playing against him. When was the last time we saw a winger that possesses his attributes (fast, powerful and skilful) in the PL?
-
If Traore is actually as good as he looks like he could be, then theres going to be a lot of PL defenders and midfielders shitting themselves at the prospect of playing against him. When was the last time we saw a winger that possesses his attributes (fast, powerful and skilful) in the PL?
I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up as a striker
-
When was the last time we saw a winger that possesses his attributes (fast, powerful and skilful) in the PL?
Sanchez, Bolasie, Hazard, Mané, Ayew, Willian...
So not THAT long ago.
-
May be Bolasie would be the only one with similar attributes regularly utilised as a winger.
-
May be Bolasie would be the only one with similar attributes regularly utilised as a winger.
All of them play to one side of a central striker, which is where Traore has played all of his football thus far.
And I don't think any of them wouldn't be described as fast, powerful or skillful.
-
When was the last time we saw a winger that possesses his attributes (fast, powerful and skilful) in the PL?
Sanchez, Bolasie, Hazard, Mané, Ayew, Willian...
So not THAT long ago.
I'd add Valencia to that list. His performance against us for Wigan at Villa Park still sticks out in the memory.
-
Ok...may be I should have used the term "built like a shit house" rather than powerful.
-
Ok...may be I should have used the term "built like a shit house" rather than powerful.
or a bit fat
-
Can we have a "leave it alone" option?
-
As it's turned out, i've gone from not wanting him to thinking someone like Adebayor for a year would be good for us. A bit like Regis was useful for a year back in 91/92.
We need some sort of proven goal scorer and experience particularly if Gabby is on his way out
-
As it's turned out, i've gone from not wanting him to thinking someone like Adebayor for a year would be good for us. A bit like Regis was useful for a year back in 91/92.
We need some sort of proven goal scorer and experience particularly if Gabby is on his way out
Fixed :)
-
As it's turned out, i've gone from not wanting him to thinking someone like Adebayor for a year would be good for us. A bit like Regis was useful for a year back in 91/92.
We need some sort of proven goal scorer and experience particularly if Gabby is on his way out
Fixed :)
Harsh but fair ;)
-
Judging is what we do on the internet though, it don't hurt anyone, we all do it we get some right and some badly wrong
If you hold judgement on a player Untill the end of the season you arnt speculating or offering an opinion you are stateing the obvious, anyone can do that,
It's the same as people who say 'give him a chance' it's the bloody internet it doesn't really count, as long as they receive the full support on the pitch what Nigel from St. Albans says on a football forum means nothing
Unless they read it of course, then they might have feelings,
in which case I take full responsibility for the rubbish performances of NRC and N'zog because I don't think I've ever written anything good about them ever
So it's your fault Gabby is shite then.
-
Judging is what we do on the internet though, it don't hurt anyone, we all do it we get some right and some badly wrong
If you hold judgement on a player Untill the end of the season you arnt speculating or offering an opinion you are stateing the obvious, anyone can do that,
It's the same as people who say 'give him a chance' it's the bloody internet it doesn't really count, as long as they receive the full support on the pitch what Nigel from St. Albans says on a football forum means nothing
Unless they read it of course, then they might have feelings,
in which case I take full responsibility for the rubbish performances of NRC and N'zog because I don't think I've ever written anything good about them ever
So it's your fault Gabby is shite then.
I did actually write something good about him once or twice, I think it was when he kept popping up and scoring against our friendly neighbours
-
Satisfied enough, but would like a bit more. Already we won't be in our usual 15th-17th position as it stands, but if we bring in a couple more I think it will be a comfortable 10th or 11th.
-
Almost. Competition at right back and a top class forward, proven in the premiership would round off a seemingly unbelievable transfer window. If we can't have that, I'll be happy with any further signings, if they improve quality-wise. And if no further business, the yes satisfied overall, given our circumstances a month back.
Just edited to add, that if we do get a couple more in, then hopefully we can ship a couple more squad players out who were unlikely to feature.
-
One think that worries me is that we've blown the budget on a lot of untried foreign players. Although where the club was at the end of last season I don't see we have much of a choice... especially when it looks like John Stones will go for around £30M.
-
We are the fourth highest spenders in this window behind two mancs and the dippers.
-
We are the fourth highest spenders in this window behind two mancs and the dippers.
Haven't we only spent about £6m in real money though?
-
We are the fourth highest spenders in this window behind two mancs and the dippers.
Haven't we only spent about £6m in real money though?
Real money? We've used Bitcoin. It's the way to go for transfers.
It's silly money, any way you look at it!
-
Can't even use the term 'Monopoly Money' these days, it's worth less.
-
We are the fourth highest spenders in this window behind two mancs and the dippers.
Haven't we only spent about £6m in real money though?
I know it's a disgrace. Lerner out. Fox trot on.
-
So with less than a week to go, how are we feeling? If you were the boss who would you be trying to get before the lock?
-
So with less than a week to go, how are we feeling? If you were the boss who would you be trying to get before the lock?
RB - it would sole a positional weakness and take pressure off the CB.
-
So with less than a week to go, how are we feeling? If you were the boss who would you be trying to get before the lock?
Defenders please.
-
Net spend is negligible and are still short of quality and experience in the following areas -
RB
CB
DCM
Striker (proven)
£40m in and spend £45m isn't fooling me.
If we don't splash good money on quality players in the above its been an incomplete window
-
On the evidence so far, we still need a CF, CB and RB...without and we'll be lower half of the table; with and we could be top half.
-
It has to be a centre forward for me. Strengthen the team before the squad. We've got nobody anywhere near benteke's quality. We can't get someone close to being that good but I'd hope we can get someone better than we've got.
-
Net spend is negligible and are still short of quality and experience in the following areas -
RB
CB
DCM
Striker (proven)
£40m in and spend £45m isn't fooling me.
If we don't splash good money on quality players in the above its been an incomplete window
As long as you promise to let the rest of us know when we've been fooled.
-
Net spend is negligible and are still short of quality and experience in the following areas -
RB
CB
DCM
Striker (proven)
£40m in and spend £45m isn't fooling me.
If we don't splash good money on quality players in the above its been an incomplete window
As long as you promise to let the rest of us know when we've been fooled.
Dave, if you'd like an article on it I'll send you a quote ;)
-
So how would everyone feel if we don't sign a proven goal scorer before the transfer deadline closes tomorrow at 6pm?
We've done some great work dismantling and rebuilding the squad this summer, but I see this as almost a Peter Withe moment with the final piece of the jigsaw missing (forgive the exaggeration!). Personally I think it would be an opportunity lost if we don't sign a goal scorer as we have the makings of a very good team in progress, and our lack of goals could be the difference between a top and lower half position come the end of the season.
-
Even if we don't sign anyone else, overall i'm happy. We still have positions that need strengthening, but let's be honest, you aren't going to fix all the faults we've had for the last few years in one transfer window.
-
It's not about the money, though, is it? You can spend 100 million and end up with a load of shit players. Like Spurs.
Or you can scout properly, identify promising young talents available for reasonable fees and secure the club's financial situation for the foreseeable, while remaining competitive on the pitch. Which is what we've done.
It seems fair to say we could still do with a bit of proven quality in central defence and up front, but by and large the squad depth and quality is an improvement on last season, and more importantly, if we can hold on to these new players they look to have good potential.
-
Lescott seems likely. What about a bid for Demari Gray? Certainly one for the future - he'd do well alongside Adama.
-
I'm happy with this window but would like to get Lescott in and fingers crossed a proven striker.
-
I like the players we bought, but think we will struggle to score goals.
I really hope we get a striker in, but at the same time "unsatisfied" sounds harsh.
-
It's been a fascinating window. To be perfectly honest though the only player I actually knew anything about is Scott Sinclair. I have never knowledge at all of any of our signings, but it's been very exciting.
At first glance the signings are extremely good and very positive. Howeve it's like when you dream of winning by the lottery you think another million here but be useful and I would love to see another top class, clever striker coming in as well as Lescott. Then our summer signings would be just absolutely perfect.
-
Very very happy with the purchases in defence and midfield
In hindsight I really think we should have got one striker in for the money we spent on Ayew plus Gestede, potentially with another on loan. They both felt like alternatives to adebayor at the time. Neither like the main man for a side replacing a £32m striker
-
We need a defender and a striker minimum.
-
It's been a fascinating window. To be perfectly honest though the only player I actually knew anything about is Scott Sinclair. I have never knowledge at all of any of our signings, but it's been very exciting.
At first glance the signings are extremely good and very positive. Howeve it's like when you dream of winning by the lottery you think another million here but be useful and I would love to see another top class, clever striker coming in as well as Lescott. Then our summer signings would be just absolutely perfect.
You didn't know anything about Micah Richards?
-
I've been really impressed with Richards so far. I think the comments about his positions in games to date is well over the top.
-
It's been a fascinating window. To be perfectly honest though the only player I actually knew anything about is Scott Sinclair. I have never knowledge at all of any of our signings, but it's been very exciting.
At first glance the signings are extremely good and very positive. Howeve it's like when you dream of winning by the lottery you think another million here but be useful and I would love to see another top class, clever striker coming in as well as Lescott. Then our summer signings would be just absolutely perfect.
You didn't know anything about Micah Richards?
Errm yeah ok, forgot about him. Age and wine not helpful there.
Actually I remember fuck all nowadays! Hit 40 this year and now I enter rooms wondering why I'm there?
You was saying?
-
I'm starting to think we might do better waiting until January to see who's available then rather than grabbing what's left over now.
-
I've been impressed with quite a few of our signings, Amavi, Richards and Gana for about 15m is brilliant business I think considering some of the ridiculous fees you'll see over the next 24 hours.
If hypothetically we sold all three next summer we'd probably get 40m for them.
I'd be happy enough with Lescott coming in tomorrow but can't quite help think it will be a shade disappointing if we don't sign another striker.
I always thought the plan to replace Benteke would be to sign two strikers, one relatively proven in the prem and another more long term project.
I assume that would be Adebayor and Ayew so don't understand why that plan has gone cold or why Gestede seems to have taken over the experienced striker mantle as he's miles off what Benteke was.
A 7/10 window for with that being bumped up to 9/10 if Lescott and Charlie Austin turn up tomorrow.
-
Yeah we seem to have bought two back up strikers (with potential) but no proven guy. Might turn out ok but I think it could be quite a big mistake
-
You never know, they may have been pretty sure Adebayor would come when they signed those 2. I'd rather we stick with what we have than panic buy someone.
-
Depends what you want really.
Getting in an Austin and I think that would mean us having a very comfortable season and even sneaking into the top half as plenty of other teams have goalscorers now.
Stick with what we've got and yes I do think we have enough to stay up but we could yet again go into April and May supporting teams who are playing Norwich and Sunderland.
-
I'm starting to think we might do better waiting until January to see who's available then rather than grabbing what's left over now.
Maybe but there's just as much panic buying that goes on in January, Rickie Lambert would've been a panic buy from last season certainly.
They'll be enough decent strikers moving tomorrow, I'd like us to get one of them.
-
We've improved our midfield in fairness, but it shows his poor a squad Lambert left behind that, even with 40 million quid spent, there are still glaring issues to be sorted. Lescott would give us more steel at the back despite his advancing years, but a new 'keeper (or at least stronger competition for Guzan) and a striker are musts for me.
Of the ones we've brought in.
Positives are Amavi, Gueye, Richards (though id prefer him at right back) and Traore.
Jury still out. Crespo, Veretout, Gestede, Bunn and Ayew.
Am surprised we gave Baker and Bacuna new deals as well.
-
I'm starting to think we might do better waiting until January to see who's available then rather than grabbing what's left over now.
Only results between now and then will determine that argument
Historically speaking January is not a good time for shopping , prices are super high particularly if a seller senses desperation .
-
I think we definitely need a forward. I think it will be the difference between another potential relegation threat season to being around mid-table.
-
Lescott and Adebayor to add to the business we did early on then I'll be down for an "I'm satisfied" and willing to wait to convert that to "I'm really happy with the window" as the season progresses.
-
so far so good, we have to appreciate that there is not a manager that gets all of his signings right.
Check out some of the dummies Fergie signed, we were mad enough to take the Dlemba twins off his hands.
The potential arrivals of Ade and Lescott are risks but all transfers are.
The secret is getting most of them right.
I also hope that we see some more deadwood out of the door.
Happy TDLD everybody.
-
I'm pretty happy with things, I'd like another defender because I don't trust the fitness of Baker or Senderos which puts us at risk of yet another season of chopping and changing centre backs, which has been one of the biggest issues for the last 5 years. Up front i can't decide, we need to give Gestede, Ayew and Kozak a decent chance to show they can offer something all 3 are practically new to the league so will need to settle but we need to give them a chance. This is where the Gabby situation becomes so frustrating, if he offered a decent goal threat we could let him and Sinclair battle to be the more senior partner and then rotate the other alongside but Gabby's complete lack of goals undermines the whole idea. If we could repalce him with someone like Adebayor for a year I'd take it.
-
If we could just sign Lescott and Austin I really think that we would have the makings of a squad that wouldn't struggle anymore but, would be a great base to build on for the future.
-
If we could just sign Lescott and Austin I really think that we would have the makings of a squad that wouldn't struggle anymore but, would be a great base to build on for the future.
Absolutely this.
-
It's been the biggest change of personnel that I can remember. Maybe since Brian Little's time. Long overdue, the Delph saga was very disappointing and he is badly missed at the moment. Benteke leaving was no surprise but we got great money for him. The rest were no loss and we got rid of the most of the deadwood, still a few stragglers holding on but that's to be expected. Bottom line the squad is vastly improved despite the loss of key individuals.
Amavi and Gueye look the pick of the new signings so far but it's very early days. If Sinclair delivers on his undoubted talent then he could be the signing of the summer but he has a bit more to do yet before I'm fully convinced. The only one that looks miles off right now is Ayew, patience needed but he looks very limited so far. Some of the other new signings, not sure of the point of them (Crespo, Lescott, Adebayor...) or whether they fit the type of football we seem to be trying to play (Gestede).
My main concern is the ability of Sherwood to make a team of out the players he has. Three games in a row, the teams momentum has been checked by the opposing manager making a double substitution and it has cost us points. We have had some daft selection choices already, Ayew and Gabby up front against United and Bacuna ahead of Gil the last day.
Sherwood still is struggling to implement a definitive style of play and structure to the team supporting it. It's a bit scattergun at the moment from him and this applies to our signings confirmed today and likely tomorrow.
-
I'd rather point to individually player errors than lay the blame at the manager for dropping points in the last 2 games...yes its frustrating when a team has a good spell during a game but thats part of football.
Pardew made changes that made Palace more competitive in the second half but it wasn't until the last few minutes when a mistake at the back cost us; similarly despite dominating the game against Sunderland, it wasn't the substitutions by Advocaat that cost us 2 points, it was the mistake at the back and our inability to convert chances. Gestede and Kozak weren't fully match fit against Man Utd; the same applies to Gil against Sunderland. We're a new team trying to gel and with a fully fit squad at our disposal, each of those results could have panned out very differently.
-
It looks like it's Lescott and Berba coming in today and if that's the case, on top of the players already signed I have to say I'm delighted. The best since '08 and one of the best of the past 20 odd years.
-
This has probably already been posted but I noticed that Matt Kendrick retweeted the net transfer spend league table today and we're third from bottom (assuming the figures are correct and assuming we don't snap up Messi before 6pm) with a spend of just £7m. Is it just me concerned about this?
-
This has probably already been posted but I noticed that Matt Kendrick retweeted the net transfer spend league table today and we're third from bottom (assuming the figures are correct and assuming we don't snap up Messi before 6pm) with a spend of just £7m. Is it just me concerned about this?
*borrows paulie's stopwatch*
-
If we could just sign Lescott and Austin I really think that we would have the makings of a squad that wouldn't struggle anymore but, would be a great base to build on for the future.
I'd say there's pretty much zero chance of us spending 15m on a single player today.
-
No. If we hadn't spent the best part of £50m rebuilding the squad then it would be cause for concern, but we have got rid of loads of dead wood and replaced with better quality players in most positions. The only concern is that we don't seem to have a prolific goal scorer on the books and at the moment its hard to see where additional goals will be contributed from midfield...obviously that could all change even if we don't sign anyone today once we have a fully fit squad and if Sinclair continues knocking them in.
-
This has probably already been posted but I noticed that Matt Kendrick retweeted the net transfer spend league table today and we're third from bottom (assuming the figures are correct and assuming we don't snap up Messi before 6pm) with a spend of just £7m. Is it just me concerned about this?
*borrows paulie's stopwatch*
Ah, just read the thread from the start.
I think we've done enough to stay up for another year. 15th
-
We have still spent circa £50 million, which is way more than I would have expected.
The mantra from the club for the past few years has been self sustaining, so even with recouping in excess of £40 million in fees, I was expecting a spend closer to £30 million, and wouldn't have been at all surprised if it was more like £20-25 million.
I have to say, for that level of investment, I think we could have done more.
Talk of a bid today for Gayle. Palace accepted a bid of £6 million plus add ons from Bristol City, so, say we bid a bit less than that -£4-5 million: that would take the combined figure for Gestede, Ayew and Gayle to £20-21 million.
At that price, we could have been looking for something far closer to the finished article.
One gun forward would be better for us than three jobbing CF's.
-
The mantra from the club for the past few years has been self sustaining, so even with recouping in excess of £40 million in fees, I was expecting a spend closer to £30 million, and wouldn't have been at all surprised if it was more like £20-25 million
That's what I was trying to suggest. That our expectations have been lowered to such an extent over recent years that some people are pleasantly surprised when we net spend less than 17 other teams in the league. And Baker can return when he's shaved his fanny-tickler off
-
So what did you think of the transfer window?
People say the table never lies, if that’s true then we have been a pretty poor team for the last four seasons.
People say that a successful football club is about having 70% good players, 20% a good manager, and 10% good background staff. This transfer window has seen the backroom staff excel, in finding new, young, exciting players (all of them won’t, make it, but your mad if you think that every transfer will be a success)
People say that because we are a great club, we deserve to be challenging for the top four positions. The world has changed, you have clubs like Chelsea spending oil money on players, which should be spent on the poor in Russia. We have man city spending the wealth of a nation on players when it should be spent on building the infrastructure in the Middle East. It’s amazing to think that a billionaire like Randy has not got enough money to buy the league (like Blackburn did)
Back in the day Nottingham Forest won the old second division, and in the following season won the first division, you can’t even imagine Bournemouth doing that today.
Football for three or four clubs is about success and glory, and having a good season, everyone else it’s about entertainment and good moments.
This transfer window brought the possibility of entertaining football with the prospects of some very good moments.
This transfer window brought the possibility of future transfer windows, bringing even more exciting players bearing in mind the fact that we will have new television deal money to come, and it will be at least two years before the immoral clubs, built on obscenely wealth, step in and take our best player. This time at least we will know that the money will be well invested.
I expect a roller-coaster ride before Christmas and then a safe mid-table position after Christmas with us all looking forward to a league cup final.
My marks out of 10 for this transfer window would be 8/10. I am happy that the entertainment is back at Villa Park.
:)
(Would love to see two players from the development team, come through this season)
-
Enjoy it while you can because it won't last for to much longer
-
It was brilliant until the last week. We needed a proven goalscorer.
We were one of the lowest scoring clubs in Europe and we sold our top scorer.
We'll be fine if Gestede and/or Ayew set the World alight but there is a lot of pressure on them now.
-
Gotta be happy with how the window has gone especially after we lost CB and Delph-ngini.
-
We needed an overhaul after that game in May and we've had one.
Personally the only change I'd have made was not to have bought Gestede and spent out on Charlie Austin.
I'm very pleased with it though.
-
Fairly happy with the transfer window, I think we have markedly improved the defence, however I would have liked a top striker to replace Benteke.
I suppose once the team has had time to gel we will see if we have improved and if the money has been spent wisely.
-
7/10
Would have been a 9/10 if we had got a striker in. Slightly worried about the lack of striker options
-
Over the moon with certain signings
I'm just hoping ayew does the business.
-
Overall satisfied but I have concerns about Ayew and Gestede. Only time will tell if their combined fees would have better spent on Austin.
-
we were never going to buy Austin.
-
Disappointed we didn't get a proper keeper and a reliable forward, but overall I'd say 7 out of 10.
-
8/10 in defence and midfield
But worried we'll be making a panic striker purchase in January
-
Overall I'm fairly happy. We're still shot up top, at right back and in goal.
-
It was brilliant until the last week. We needed a proven goalscorer.
We were one of the lowest scoring clubs in Europe and we sold our top scorer.
We'll be fine if Gestede and/or Ayew set the World alight but there is a lot of pressure on them now.
I'd agree with that, pretty much.
Gabby, Ayew, Gestede, Kozak - not too sure where the goals are there.
Sinclair isn't going to continue scoring at this rate.
-
Only disappointed we didn't get a goalscorer. Never mind, we still don't know about Ayew, Gestede or even Kozak. They might pleasantly surprise us.
-
Difficult to see where regular goals are going to come from. Still I'm far happier to beleive that Sherwood was trying to make things happen on that front.
-
In terms of proven strikers we've obviously tried and failed to bring in Adebayor and Berbatov. They're obviously not interested enough in their careers, and playing football to have taken us up on our offers. If so, fuck them.
Austin would have been great but something doesn't seem right there. Firstly QPR are playing hard ball. No one is willing to pay, including us. Does he have a fitness issue?
I actually think we've got a very good alternative at the club already, in Kozak. A little faith shown to him would go a long way. Ayew is also talented. A goal could kick start him. He's just trying too hard but we need to show a little faith. He has been terrible so far. Like a bad Ali Dia impression but I think he'll come good with a little faith and some luck.
As for the other signings. I'm hoping for good things from Veretout when he kicks on. Richards, Amavi and Gana already look the business. Traore looks very exciting. Sinclair is bang in form.
I think we've got a lot of promise.
8/10 for the window.
A striker would have made it a 9. I don't think it was for the want of trying. We've already signed two strikers unproven at this level. We could possibly have punted on another one, but I think proven was what we needed but what is available at the moment? Not much. We tried for two hideously overpaid primadonnas who clearly aren't too bothered, and we probably, like half the prem, expressed an interest in Austin but weren't willing to meet the valuation/risk.
-
8/10
Even though there are a couple of areas that look like they need strengthening, we were never going to fix all of the problems of the last few years in one transfer window. We've fixed a few of them though and made some potentially cracking signings.
-
Obviously way too soon to be judging the players themselves as most of them are new to the PL. However Richards already looks at least as good as Vlaar on a good day, Amavi looks a real find, Guye and Gestede promising. In terms of intent and approach it's the most promising window for quite some time. However as yet I'd say not quite enough to really impress me, and I'd hope it's not quite over. The club have reinvested the 45m or so funds brought in from sales - but only about about 3-4m on top of that. I'd say we still need a Right back in the mould of Amavi, another solid experienced centre back, a keeper to put pressure on or upgrade Guzan, and maybe a proven goalscorer. I still think Adebayor could do a job on loan if Levy isn't going to be too much of a twat over the finances. With the huge TV money at stake next year I'd hope to see net spend of at least 20m-25m to aim for a really solid all round squad.
Slightly disappointed if I'm honest, but only slightly. I posted the above on 16th August and I thought we still had some significant weak areas that needed addressing, and that we should still have a bit of wedge available given net spend was pretty low. Ok we have the experienced CB in Lescott (perhaps a bit older and more short term than I would have liked) but no proven goalscorer, upgrade on RB or experienced keeper. We have signed a lot of potential and our season will depend a lot on how much of that potential comes to fruition. At least it should be a damn sight more entertaining then previous seasons.
-
The problem about our strikers is you can only play one or perhaps two at a time
- Gestede is great in the air but not quick, isn't going to run into a grealish / Gil / veretout through ball
- gabby is gabby
- Ayew is talented but erratic and possibly not a target man in English football
- kozak is a good finisher but immobile and slow
Not to say that can't be made to work. Southampton were successful with pelle by getting pace in and around him. But we'll have to see if Gestede or kozak can offer enough to play a similar role
-
Never thought back in June that we would see this amount of turnover in the first team squad. So very pleased overall. Would have liked to have seen a reliable goal scorer come in, in addition to Sinclair, and have a slight concern over the goal keepers. However it is a lot to expect all problem areas to be sorted in one window.
9 out of 10.
-
A good window. Now we need to get them to gel asap. If one of Ayew or Gestede adapts then we will surprise people.
-
Excellent window. Cannot recall a better one. I am glad we did not get a striker from those on offer. We have no goalscoring problem our problem is of error prone defence. Two good centre backs will go a long way to you tightening the defence. Well done to all those involved in doing our business.
-
Overall i'm pretty pleased with it. It's going to take time to gel but these players are for the future, not just this season. I think we'll be in for an interesting time under Sherwood.
-
Pleased. We could do with a striker, but we've definitely upgraded the squad, and there's always January if we're in desperate need.
-
I have no idea about how good our window was. Only knew two of the players we signed and barely recognise any of the players when we actually play. I could name no more than 3 or 4 of the players who played on Saturday. I need a program to check the players names like a glory hunting tourist for crying out loud. I, as a life long fan, feel no connection with these players or my club at the moment.
I can only go on the results and performances I'm seeing. So on that basis having narrowly beaten one of the promoted sides, drawn with a team whose on going Premier League survival is even more surprising than our own and lost to 'who the fxxx are palace' I'd say we're no better than last year. At best.
Oh well, I suppose that this is one of those periods that defines my support. Stop going ? Of course not! VTID.
-
You can only name 3 or 4 of the players from Saturday? 8 of the 12 we used played for us last season.
-
You can only name 3 or 4 of the players from Saturday? 8 of the 12 we used played for us last season.
well at least my attempt to block out last season is working then 😀
-
Defence: Richards for vlaar, Amavi for cissokho, lescott for baker, ilori for senderos. Really big upgrade - need to improve the organisation
Attacking midfield a monumental upgrade in the squad compared to the start of last season: Traore for nzogbia, veretout for Cleverley, grealish for weimann, Sinclair for gabby as a left forward.
Happy with gueye as a replacement for delph
Gestede and Ayew, plus kozak back from injury, for benteke. That's the issue. How it all balances out in the round is unclear at the moment.
-
Probably in the minority here but I am not worried about where the goals will come from. Once these players gel I expect us to be far more creative than last year and we won't be relying on one player to score the bulk of our goals. It's been a very good window I think. I also like how we have extended the contracts of the likes of Bennett and Baker, we haven't given up on them and given them away for next to nothing.
-
I'm satisfied. I imagine the perspective of the transfer window is affected by when we did our deals. If we had done a good number in the last week the view might be more positive. Overall we have signed a number of good players will lots to prove and lots of gelling to do. Ask me again in a couple of months and satisfaction might turn to delight or despair.
-
For me we have signed far too many players in one window but let's see.....
-
I think we had to. Not a perfect way of doing things but we needed the overhaul. We just need to have patience in seeing it mature and evolve.
-
Hmmm, really not sure. Despite having Gabby, Kozak, Ayew, Gestede and Sinclair as options up front, I don't really think we have a strike force as such.
-
For the first time in a while we actually have a number of options.
-
Overall, I'm delighted. Best transfer window ever, I'd say. We've signed a high number of high quality players. We could have done with another striker.. maybe.. but I think if we give Sinclair a chance he'll score goals from up front or out on the left. I think Ayew will come good and Kozak and Gestede can chip in too.
Thrilled with everything else, I don't actually know who I'd say is in our best defense or midfield anymore.
-
Surely it is a question to ask after it closes and even then it's premature. If this side gels and comes together we can look back and say it was exactly what was needed. Hopefully that's the case, but it is way too early to make a call either way.
Agreed.
Apparently we have brought in some gifted players, and probably after too many frustrating seasons we can try and play an entartaining, passing, attacking, football.
But, at the end of the day, we are plenty of players that can play as wingers or in the hole whereas we still miss a reliable striker; in that role we can count only on Sinclair whereas Ayew, Gestede and Agbonlahor are not good enough.
It is quite clear that the 16 millions spent for the duo Ayew Gestede have been thrown away, we'd better signed one good striker (in Italy there are many that you could buy with the 50% of this sum).
And we should sign a reliable keeper for the declining Guzan.
-
How is it quite clear we've thrown the money away? Ayew and Gestede have both started 2 league games. It's a bit early to be writing them off like that.
-
Surely it is a question to ask after it closes and even then it's premature. If this side gels and comes together we can look back and say it was exactly what was needed. Hopefully that's the case, but it is way too early to make a call either way.
Agreed.
Apparently we have brought in some gifted players, and probably after too many frustrating seasons we can try and play an entartaining, passing, attacking, football.
But, at the end of the day, we are plenty of players that can play as wingers or in the hole whereas we still miss a reliable striker; in that role we can count only on Sinclair whereas Ayew, Gestede and Agbonlahor are not good enough.
It is quite clear that the 16 millions spent for the duo Ayew Gestede have been thrown away, we'd better signed one good striker (in Italy there are many that you could buy with the 50% of this sum).
And we should sign a reliable keeper for the declining Guzan.
This is nonsense. It is not at all clear that money has been thrown away on Gestede or Ayew...
-
I hope to be wrong but it took to me one minute to understand that Ayew has not qualities and has been overpaid.
Gestede is slightly better, he was good in championship, but probably he struggles to fulfill with the PL standards.
With 16 millions :'( we could do much, much more, but our football director/coaches/scouts are not at the same level of those that work for clubs like Everton, Southampton and Everton. These latters sign the good players, we sign their brothers.....
-
Yeah i'm gutted that Traore, Richards, Amavi, Gana etc all play for Everton or Southampton.
-
While it's too early to say that Gusted and Ayew won't make it, I think I can say already without fear of contradiction that Amavi is easily the best left back we've had in years. Even considering the utter shit he's up against in that position at Villa, it's clear that the boy is class.
-
Satisfied.
-
Sorry Archie when we have just signed Amavi and Gueye etc that look brilliant and Everton have spent 9.5 on Mori who Tim Vickery has gone on record to say is nowhere near good enough for the same money I think you are being way over the top about our scouts. This summer they have clearly been much better. Can't we give them a chance to see his they do now. You are hung up on Ayew who is very young relatively still, and may yet prove us all wrong.
-
While it's too early to say that Gusted and Ayew won't make it, I think I can say already without fear of contradiction that Amavi is easily the best left back we've had in years. Even considering the utter shit he's up against in that position at Villa, it's clear that the boy is class.
Yes. And also Traorè and Guana seem good.
I think we have problems up front and with the keeper and it is a pity as with 16 millions we could buy two reliable players.
-
I think a lot will depend on whether Ayew and Gestede will be effective.
I may be one of the few that is happy we didn't gamble on Adebayor...
-
Sorry Archie when we have just signed Amavi and Gueye etc that look brilliant and Everton have spent 9.5 on Mori who Tim Vickery has gone on record to say is nowhere near good enough for the same money I think you are being way over the top about our scouts. This summer they have clearly been much better. Can't we give them a chance to see his they do now. You are hung up on Ayew who is very young relatively still, and may yet prove us all wrong.
Your words are wise and I hope you are right mate! The reason why I am partially unsatisafied is that with 16 millions we could sign the likes of Paloschi (Chievo, striker), Destro (Bologna, Striker) and Sorrentino (Palermo, keeper) and I have the impression that our scouts do not look at the Italian Serie A (where, by the way, are actually withouth contract three excellent and experienced coaches like Prandelli, Donadoni and Guidolin).
-
If our midfield could actually contribute more in the goals department then the strike force would probably do us for now.
-
Goals are going to be the issue . That's unless Ayew Gestede can settle quickly and begin firing, do we convert Sinclair to an out and out striker ?
Will Kozak ever get a chance ?
Traore ? 7 or 8 goals I'd hope
Gabby ? He will not score more than 8 PL goals max .
The midfield simply won't contribute in terms of Westwood Sanchez but Grealish may start registering.
-
I wonder how much the manager was limited on money to spend. It looks as though he has had to rely on the Benteke sale for the bulk of the buys and has only spent around £10m on top of money brought in through sales. Had Sherwood planned for Delph leaving and di he expect to get rid of a few more. As much as money dictates how many you bring in, for a club in our position the number of senior players also is a factor. We cannot afford to have too many that we are paying not to play. It would be interesting to know how things would have developed if Benteke was still with us.
I think the club have done well to identify and bring in so many players in the short time from when it was clear that Liverpool were going to pay up for Benteke. I would imagine they have made enquiries about many players that have not been reported. I think these days there is a shortage of players that are obvious potential buys for a club in our position. The most obvious example of this a central striker where Austin stood out the most but it would appear that nobody would touch him for whatever reason, even at £15m, when a player like Berahino is valued at £25m.
I am pleased with the way things have gone and look forward to the mid and end of season windows to see the continuation of the rebuilding of the squad. There are areas that still need strengthening and some of the buys will not come off but if the teams starts playing well, we will become an attraction for young up and coming foreign players, without the need to break the bank. Also, hopefully, some of our own young players will develop as well.
-
I wonder how much the manager was limited on money to spend. It looks as though he has had to rely on the Benteke sale for the bulk of the buys and has only spent around £10m on top of money brought in through sales. Had Sherwood planned for Delph leaving and di he expect to get rid of a few more. As much as money dictates how many you bring in, for a club in our position the number of senior players also is a factor. We cannot afford to have too many that we are paying not to play. It would be interesting to know how things would have developed if Benteke was still with us.
I think the club have done well to identify and bring in so many players in the short time from when it was clear that Liverpool were going to pay up for Benteke. I would imagine they have made enquiries about many players that have not been reported. I think these days there is a shortage of players that are obvious potential buys for a club in our position. The most obvious example of this a central striker where Austin stood out the most but it would appear that nobody would touch him for whatever reason, even at £15m, when a player like Berahino is valued at £25m.
I am pleased with the way things have gone and look forward to the mid and end of season windows to see the continuation of the rebuilding of the squad. There are areas that still need strengthening and some of the buys will not come off but if the teams starts playing well, we will become an attraction for young up and coming foreign players, without the need to break the bank. Also, hopefully, some of our own young players will develop as well.
I think almost certainly. Guaye appears to be his replacement and was signed before Mr. Boomerang changed direction again.
-
Goals are going to be the issue . That's unless Ayew Gestede can settle quickly and begin firing, do we convert Sinclair to an out and out striker ?
Will Kozak ever get a chance ?
Traore ? 7 or 8 goals I'd hope
Gabby ? He will not score more than 8 PL goals max .
The midfield simply won't contribute in terms of Westwood Sanchez but Grealish may start registering.
I think it has been a decent window, but the failure to bring in a proven striker after losing Benteke could be a problem.
-
Is there a shortage of strikers around? There were seemingly a number of clubs in need of one but all are still short.
-
i just dont understand why we need so many centre backs, its MON all over again
-
i just dont understand why we need so many centre backs, its MON all over again
We've got Okore, Richards, Clark, Lescott, so 4, possibly 5 depending on where Ilori plays. Okore is injured, so currently 3 maybe 4. Same as most clubs. I don't count Senderos as I just assume he'll always be injured.
-
i just dont understand why we need so many centre backs, its MON all over again
Well Baker is out on loan, Senderos I think is write off and Richards now has options of playing RB once Okore is back
-
i just dont understand why we need so many centre backs, its MON all over again
We had 5 first team ones last season and we still managed to get into positions where we were sweating on a friday night over having two fit.
-
Someone wrote that the window slammed shut in our faces again....
...eh..I think the door FINALLY closed so not every average Joe looking for a paycheck could sneak in!
But overall years of neglect on the transfer-market has been patched somewhat mostly with the money for Benteke.
Honestly I think we got more then he was worth...he was amazing that spring 2 seasons ago but after the injury he has faded somewhat.
I rather take the players we got for the Liverpool money then have Benteke back if given the choice.
Gestede, I think will be effective but not until later. I hope he is used as a sub early on but when winter is coming and the games switch from pace to physical, the championship experience will start to work in his favor and he will have adjusted to the game in the Premier. He doesn't have to do it all...creating space for Sinclair, Grealish and Traore will be just as important.
All the recruits in the defence are solid. Amavi, Richards and Lescott.
I think we got two duds though : 1) Ayew , is far worst of all our forwards. 2) Veretout, doesnt really bring anything to the midfield.
Think we miss Delph more then Benteke this season...dont think Gana is the playmaker Fabian was. Gil sure isn't....an uneven Lambert budget buy, talent but with questionable work ethic. Westwood is stable but uncreative and like to sit back. Prefer Sanchez over him.
Traore, Amavi and Lescott. Thats the gold in this transferwindow for Villa IMHO. With Gestede as a lurker...
-
I'm guessing 14 signings is a record for us
-
Sorry Archie when we have just signed Amavi and Gueye etc that look brilliant and Everton have spent 9.5 on Mori who Tim Vickery has gone on record to say is nowhere near good enough for the same money I think you are being way over the top about our scouts. This summer they have clearly been much better. Can't we give them a chance to see his they do now. You are hung up on Ayew who is very young relatively still, and may yet prove us all wrong.
Your words are wise and I hope you are right mate! The reason why I am partially unsatisafied is that with 16 millions we could sign the likes of Paloschi (Chievo, striker), Destro (Bologna, Striker) and Sorrentino (Palermo, keeper) and I have the impression that our scouts do not look at the Italian Serie A (where, by the way, are actually withouth contract three excellent and experienced coaches like Prandelli, Donadoni and Guidolin).
I think it often takes players quite a while to adapt to the difference in pace between the 2 divisions. That may have been a factor and Sherwood has said that he thinks the French league is the closest to the Premier League. In that case, it might be better to recruit young players for development from Italy so that we still pick up talented players but they're not expected to come straight into the first team.
-
i just dont understand why we need so many centre backs, its MON all over again
We've only got four fit ones even now with Okore injured and Senderos not wanted. At least we now have two players for every position.
-
Someone wrote that the window slammed shut in our faces again....
...eh..I think the door FINALLY closed so not every average Joe looking for a paycheck could sneak in!
But overall years of neglect on the transfer-market has been patched somewhat mostly with the money for Benteke.
Honestly I think we got more then he was worth...he was amazing that spring 2 seasons ago but after the injury he has faded somewhat.
I rather take the players we got for the Liverpool money then have Benteke back if given the choice.
Gestede, I think will be effective but not until later. I hope he is used as a sub early on but when winter is coming and the games switch from pace to physical, the championship experience will start to work in his favor and he will have adjusted to the game in the Premier. He doesn't have to do it all...creating space for Sinclair, Grealish and Traore will be just as important.
All the recruits in the defence are solid. Amavi, Richards and Lescott.
I think we got two duds though : 1) Ayew , is far worst of all our forwards. 2) Veretout, doesnt really bring anything to the midfield.
Think we miss Delph more then Benteke this season...dont think Gana is the playmaker Fabian was. Gil sure isn't....an uneven Lambert budget buy, talent but with questionable work ethic. Westwood is stable but uncreative and like to sit back. Prefer Sanchez over him.
Traore, Amavi and Lescott. Thats the gold in this transferwindow for Villa IMHO. With Gestede as a lurker...
Delph was in no way, shape or form a creative midfielder.
-
Someone wrote that the window slammed shut in our faces again....
...eh..I think the door FINALLY closed so not every average Joe looking for a paycheck could sneak in!
But overall years of neglect on the transfer-market has been patched somewhat mostly with the money for Benteke.
Honestly I think we got more then he was worth...he was amazing that spring 2 seasons ago but after the injury he has faded somewhat.
I rather take the players we got for the Liverpool money then have Benteke back if given the choice.
Gestede, I think will be effective but not until later. I hope he is used as a sub early on but when winter is coming and the games switch from pace to physical, the championship experience will start to work in his favor and he will have adjusted to the game in the Premier. He doesn't have to do it all...creating space for Sinclair, Grealish and Traore will be just as important.
All the recruits in the defence are solid. Amavi, Richards and Lescott.
I think we got two duds though : 1) Ayew , is far worst of all our forwards. 2) Veretout, doesnt really bring anything to the midfield.
Think we miss Delph more then Benteke this season...dont think Gana is the playmaker Fabian was. Gil sure isn't....an uneven Lambert budget buy, talent but with questionable work ethic. Westwood is stable but uncreative and like to sit back. Prefer Sanchez over him.
Traore, Amavi and Lescott. Thats the gold in this transferwindow for Villa IMHO. With Gestede as a lurker...
Agree with a lot of this, but have to disagree with the two points in bold. I think Veretout will be a useful addition once he is up to speed and think he could be an upgrade on Westwood in time. He is undoubtedly a good player, but Delph offered little in terms of creativity and goals. His main strength is receiving balls in tight spaces and keeping moves going, something Gueye looks equally adept at and I think he also offers more defensively than Delph does.
-
I imagine after 2 full years under Sherwood we will have a decent team to support again.
Next few months are critical though .
-
Marton let me have a puff of whatever you are smoking please?
-
Whilst Ayew and Veretout have been a little underwhelming so far it's daft to be saying they're duds after a couple of outings. I think there have been glimpses of talent from both. It's all a bit tense from Ayew. Hopefully with more game time he should settle down and become more composed. He should certainly be in ahead of Gabby for me.
-
I don't think we'll miss Delph, we'll miss Benteke for a while though. Imagine him on the end of Amavi crosses, and Gil/Grealish/Traore crosses and passes! That said, we're hopefully going to be a stronger team now, and rather than just stop Benteke, the opposition have more than one player to worry about.
-
Considering the car crash we had of Delph and Benteke leaving within 24 hours and at the time we'd only signed Gana I'm delighted with what we've signed by and large.....
However not getting in an experienced striker is an error imo so I can see us panic buying an expensive on in January like we did with Darren Bent to keep us in the league.
-
Relatively speaking Darren Bent wasn't expensive.
-
Relatively speaking Darren Bent wasn't expensive.
O.k he was a short term fix e.g. unlike the players we are signing now we weren't going to get our money back or indeed make a good profit from him although I don't think anyone expected us to have to let him go on a free.
There also didn't seem to be a plan on how to use him post Young and Downing and so even though he still scored at a reasonable rate in the McLeish season his impact on games declined and that continued into the Lambert era and him then falling well out of favour.
At least with the signings now we'll be fine finacially with them. We signed Amavi, Richards and Gana for 20m this season. If we had to sell them next season we'd get 40m for them no problem. Amavi (20m), Gana (10m +) and Richards would probably be near that bracket given his age and experience.
-
Really think it will be that drastic Soccer?
I can't recall a Villa squad that has so much potential in it in the last 20 years maybe, since Sir Brian was walking upon water. We all know we are a proven striker short and still clearly looking for a keeper of quality but everywhere else on the pitch you could not argue that we are not better than we were by some considerable distance.
Richards, Lescott, Clark, Okore, Ilori looks an incredibly well balanced and potentially useful group of centre halves, with Okore able to take his time and get his knee spot on before returning which is a bonus after playing through it last season for us. Richards I think is proving to be an excellent signing already for me, and has the potential to be a bit of a maverick but his run out of defence at the weekend when he could have won us the game shows what else he brings to the side.
Amavi looks like he is a genuinely class act on the left, the best we have had there possibly since Staunton in his first stint, or Bouma when he was at the height of his powers. Going forward excellent and defensively decent, but will improve as he adapts. We have seen little of Crespo, and may not, but at right back I have a feeling we may see some of Ilori before long. Fast, good on the ball and an eye for a pass, I can see him being converted.
Gueye in my opinion has been better, and more consistent in his play over the first 4 games that Delph was. He looks an absolute steal to me, and we will be fighting to keep him next summer I am sure of it. His turn to lose the man and then play in Amavi for the second at the weekend was brilliant, but he did it again for the Richards chance too, he weights his passes well and breaks the play up like a terrier, fast becoming my favourite player in the side. Vertout looks classy to me. Give him 6-12 months and he will be ace, he has that bit of something about him. A bit Petrov like when he first arrived at the moment, given a few months I think he will show why the French analysts though he was the biggest coup of our French escapades.
Sanchez deserves a mention for how he seems to have now settled, I thought he was really great at Palace and again against Sunderland, and Westwood seems to be relishing getting forward more too, so the midfield looks transformed compared to last season, and I have not once sat watching us thinking mmmm, I wish Cleverly was out there.
Up front Gesete is a horse for a course quite clearly, and will need time to adapt. Great threat in the air and will score goals if we give him chances I think, and maybe deserves a bit of patience from us. Ayew likewise, I don't get how easily he has been written off and I hope he adapts in time. I think a bit more upper body strength and he has all the attributes to do well. Sinclair could easily be bargain of the season at 2.5m though, always finds space in the opposition box and seems to just sniff out chances. Add in Traore, who I doubt there is a defender in the league that really fancies playing against him, and we have got some good attacking talent. Even more encouraging is that Grealish looks like he is adding a final ball to his armour, and he looked a different class in the Palace and Notts County games. Plus Kozak is fit, still here, and does score goals if the others are failing to do so, so we have got options.
All in all you can't really argue with the business we have done, and not all will come off, but you have to be pretty satisfied to have got in the potential we have. There will inevitably be growing pains though.
-
I don't think we'll miss Delph, we'll miss Benteke for a while though. Imagine him on the end of Amavi crosses, and Gil/Grealish/Traore crosses and passes! That said, we're hopefully going to be a stronger team now, and rather than just stop Benteke, the opposition have more than one player to worry about.
Agree, but I just can't help but think what our team would have looked liked with those two alongside our current signings.
Guzan
Bacuna Richards Lescott Amavi
Gueye Delph
Traore Grealish Sinclair
Benteke
Top ten side no problem.
-
I reckon we'd have been pushing top ten with someone like Charlie Austen who would consistently put away the chances we create.
I just can't understand how a proven Premier League goalscorer has been left stranded in the Championship.
-
Very satisfied. Would have been interesting to see Adebayor, but the bloke seems to have a screw loose-not what we need in the dressing room. I think Gestede will prove a lot of people wrong. give him time. Same with Ayew.
I'm satisfied mainly, because having watched every game so far this season, there have been points where I've genuinely enjoyed watching us play again. This has been an absolute rarity over the last 5 years.
Well done to all involved for what they've brought in.
-
Truth is it was never going to get completely fixed in one window but we've taken a huge step forwards especially when you consider we also lost two key players. Overall we are in much stronger position today than how we ended the season which ultimately is the objective after every transfer window.
-
Agree, but I just can't help but think what our team would have looked liked with those two alongside our current signings.
Guzan
Bacuna Richards Lescott Amavi
Gueye Delph
Traore Grealish Sinclair
Benteke
Top ten side no problem.
Absolutely no point wasting your time thinking like that...if it wasn't for those 2 leaving then we wouldn't have the quality in the squad that we have today. Anything could have happened with a full season with TS at the helm so I'm not saying it would have been another relegation scrap, but we'll be in a stronger position than where we would have been once this new team are all fit and gel...lets not forget that we haven't had the opportunity to field our strongest lineup in any of the games so far this season. Some of the football we are about to witness could be genuinely exciting...and it seems that we're the only ones that know the potential that could about to be unleashed over the next few months at Villa.
In terms of the transfer window...I'd give it 8/10 simply on the basis that we should have and could have spent £16m on a better forward option(s) than Ayew and Gestede...they're going to need time and patience, but if they can prove they were worth signing then happy to increase that to 9/10.
-
I guess the question is over goals, 4 in 4 in the league isn't the most inspiring of starts but it's also not as terrible as some people have made out. To break it down a little I personally go with roughly 1.5 goals a game as a decent return which will generally see you safely midtable in most seasons, get the defence right with it and you're right up the top end of the league.
I believe we'll get about 9-10 each from Gestede and Sinclair, the former largely by bullying defenders and getting on the end of crosses and the latter with the clear instincts he has in the box so that's 18-20.
I also believe that Amavi, Clark, Lescott, Bacuna and Richards all have a goal or 2 in them so I'd back our defence to get 6-8 between them in the season, so 25ish.
That leaves us looking for about 30 goals from the backup forwards and the midfield (unless the 'groups' above can out-perform of course, which I think Sinclair is capable of doing, he's far better in the box than I realised) and this has been the area that's let us down badly in the last few years, it will be a lack of goals in this group that will see us struggle, not the lack of a replacement for Benteke. For all the positives about him Delph was part of the problem and Cleverley did a decent job of papering over the cracks with a cluster of goals after Sherwood came in but he still clearly failed to produce what we needed.
The only one from the group that I think comes with a guarantee of goals is Adama (because his pace and strength will lead to plenty of chances) so we really need 1-2 of the others to step up, Grealish opening his account soon would be a big help and the sooner Veretout gets fit and up to speed with the league the better.
We'll have to review this window just before the next one to get a realistic opinion but as of now I think it's gone better than anyone would've imagined so I find it hard not to think it's an 8/10 which could quite easily become more.
To focus on an individual Amavi looks like a truly superb signing to me. He has some problems defensively but what he offers going forward is impressive and the number of times he steals the ball in front of attackers and creates counter-attacks is remarkable, his reading of the game and reactions are as good as any fullback I've ever seen, he just needs to rely a little less on his pace to get him back in position and remember that it's sometimes ok to just clear the ball long, he gets both of those right and he'll be world class (the last player I called out like this so soon after signing was Benteke and I think Amavi will rise in a similar fashion).
-
I think Sherwood’s done pretty well all in all, given that he lost his best 2 players against his wishes and another first-team regular in Cleverley. It’s the first window in memory where the Manager has gone into the market with a thought-out plan of attack, that has been well communicated to the supporters, so all credit to the club for that.
So far, Gueye, Amavi and Traore look like excellent signings and Richards is showing promising signs too. Gestede will be useful, I’m sure, and prove to be worth the £6m spent on him. There’s obviously a rough diamond with Ayew, but I’m hopeful Sherwood and Wilkins can get the best out of him. Lescott is a no-brainer for me, exactly the experience we’ve been missing. From the little that I’ve seen of Ilori he looks to be the kind of ball-playing centre-back we’ve lacked since Southgate’s days. Haven’t really seen enough of Crespo to pass comment yet.
I also really like the fact that we’ve covered ourselves with extended contracts for a lot of the ‘squad players’- even the ones heading straight out on loan. If nothing else, this will allow us to recoup fees for them should they eventually move on permanently.
One further point though – I make it that we still have 26 senior players in the squad, so we’re not going to be able to name at least one of them. Jed Steer maybe? Senderos/N’Zogbia? Or even Gardner?
-
sounds like Tim pulled out of signing Oulare just a few days before the deadline yesterday According to The Sun, he thought the guy was too raw and would take too much time to adjust to the PL. Will be interesting to see how he fares at Watford.
-
I'm happy with the players we've signed and while some has hit the ground running like Amavi & Gueye, others like Veretout, Ayew and Gestede may need a bit more time to get up to speed. Given we also have Richards and Lescott as experienced professionals, overall I'm very happy with the window.I haven't even mentioned Traore, or Ilori.
Whereas it would have been good to sign Austin, didn't we show a bit of interest in him early in the window but he was allegedly hanging out for what he called a top team (or did I imagine this)?
Adebayor sounds like a very selfish and greedy nut job, so I'm glad he hasn't signed. I could see him causing a lot of disruption in the changing room. As for Berbatov, he has no club so it's on terms we want or not at all. We don't want to sign 34 year old players on ridiculous money.
Well done Villa.
-
We needed a goalscorer and we haven't got the biggest priority sorted . Let's hope Ayew Gestede Kozak Gabby start firing .
-
Playmaker that Delph was??? Remind me again how many assists did Delph have last season?
-
We needed a goalscorer and we haven't got the biggest priority sorted . Let's hope Ayew Gestede Kozak Gabby start firing .
That's probably the most optimistic thing I've seen you post on here :).
If he does it'll be the most impressive firing since Lambert.
-
Overall the defence and defensive midfield options have been improved markedly as overall units with options on how to set them up. I'd be very surprised if we conceded more than last year (57).
Benteke is obviously a massive loss. There are significant doubts as to if any of the central strikers are premiership quality let alone coming close to directly replacing him. Having said that the overall attacking options are improved. Sinclair and Grealish look like they're continuing to improve. Adama Traore looks very lively.
Again I'd be surprised if we didn't improve on last year (31) but by how much is the main concern.
If you score more than you concede then mid table or above is guaranteed - we aint going to do that. I can't see the total goals being scored by all our attacking options being 38 or more - regardless of who plays and where they play. Of course you look to the defenders and defensive midfielders to chip in as well, but that won't get us up to the 50 mark.
The dice has been rolled once again, it could all go horribly wrong but most likely we should improve on last season with virtually zero net spend, but not up to mid table.
So back to the original question - satisfied or not? Yes-ish ..... would have preferred someone with a modest (say 8-12 goals per season) proven premiership record over the combined Ayew and Gestede.
-
Sort-of-ish.....
I read in the Times today that our net spend was £4.4m......thats not a lot of investment really.
Its a bit poor that lerner and co werent willing to invest more than that with the new PL paymenrs kicking in next year.
Another £10-15m wohld have probably got us premiership ready players too..saying that i hope thatthe recent buys come good... cant help thinking there is a bit of hope with it all that a few of the many will come good
-
Considering the amount of players we need to gel then I think we've done more than enough in this window...lets see how things settle down, and if there's any short comings then all being well then we should have funds available in January. Lets not criticise Randy for not spending a higher net amount yet when theres another transfer window in a few months.
TS has also stated that there's better quality players available in Europe for a fraction of the cost...thats why we haven't signed players with PL experience (presuming thats what you mean by "Premiership ready").
-
Its Tims first summer window where he finally had a chance to start building a team. The money for Benteke and Delph obviously helped him to manage what I consider in realative terms to be one of the best net results in added value for £ based on needs. Swansea, Watford and maybe Newcastle could claim to rival us based on the situation, budget and demnads in those clubs.
Sure, its possible to be jealous on the signings made by Man, C, Man U and Liverpool. But if we talking value for money, budget and net gain in squad strength (also considering how much talent that walked out the door) and the overpaying then Tim has outdone them all.
That said, value is always subjective based on the perspective of whoever doing the evaluation. TS, Learner and every fan probably will never agree about the result.
For now im content...even optimistic. That however will quickly change if Villa fight another relegation battle this season...
-
One pleasing aspect about this window is how some clubs have started fighting back against so called player power and money bags. Everton with Stone, Albion with Berahino and Southampton with both Wanayma and Mane have restored some balance.
-
I think we're seeing the first stages of the knock on effect of the forthcoming increased TV revenue where clubs don't have an immediate need for generating income via player sales and would rather keep hold of their best players than having to replace like for like...albeit the sums being quoted for British players is beyond ridiculous and only serves to enforce TS transfer policy this summer where better quality players at a fraction of the cost are available elsewhere.
-
but Yanited paying £36m for Martial has completely altered the dynamic again, effectively ring fencing emerging young foreign talent for the top clubs. In June we might have had an outside chance of snaring Embolo with a £15-17m bid. Now, post Martial, you couldn't get close to that player for less than £45m. Brilliant young players are now the reserve of Chavski, Man U Man City and Arsenal plus Real Madrid and Barcelona. Yes clubs can choose to ignore bids, but in reality they won't, when so much money is at stake. The other depressing aspect to this is the intolerable burden of expectation such fees place upon the player himself.
-
but Yanited paying £36m for Martial has completely altered the dynamic again, effectively ring fencing emerging young foreign talent for the top clubs. In June we might have had an outside chance of snaring Embolo with a £15-17m bid. Now, post Martial, you couldn't get close to that player for less than £45m. Brilliant young players are now the reserve of Chavski, Man U Man City and Arsenal plus Real Madrid and Barcelona. Yes clubs can choose to ignore bids, but in reality they won't, when so much money is at stake. The other depressing aspect to this is the intolerable burden of expectation such fees place upon the player himself.
Brilliant young players do not always turn into brilliant older players. The fact these clubs spunk ever increasing amounts away in desperation will mean that there will be opportunities for smart, well run clubs to take advantage of this decadence.
-
I wouldn't say one signing from Man Utd will distort the European markets...at the end of the day, the prices are set by what the buying club is prepared to pay and what the selling club is prepared to accept. I would say the Martial deal is an exception to this considering they were apparently reported to want £20m when Spurs were after him so they've basically paid over the odds due to desperation so close to the window closing.
With regards to expectations...Man Utd have added even greater weight today by handing Martial the no.9 shirt.
-
I wouldn't say one signing from Man Utd will distort the European markets...at the end of the day, the prices are set by what the buying club is prepared to pay and what the selling club is prepared to accept. I would say the Martial deal is an exception to this considering they were apparently reported to want £20m when Spurs were after him so they've basically paid over the odds due to desperation so close to the window closing.
With regards to expectations...Man Utd have added even greater weight today by handing Martial the no.9 shirt.
He's the new Peter Davenport.
-
Interesting to see the Liverpool view of our transfer dealings this summer follwoing the Ilori deal.
http://www.thisisanfield.com/2015/09/tiago-ilori-loan-another-sign-liverpools-transfer-incompetence/
They seem to have taken more notice of our signings than most of the media.
-
Thinking about it, getting Richards plus lescott plus ilori for a net spend of about £2m upfront is fantastic business isn't it?
-
Interesting to see the Liverpool view of our transfer dealings this summer follwoing the Ilori deal.
http://www.thisisanfield.com/2015/09/tiago-ilori-loan-another-sign-liverpools-transfer-incompetence/
They seem to have taken more notice of our signings than most of the media.
And seem to be pretty far ahead of the Mail in terms of quality of analysis too.
-
Thinking about it, getting Richards plus lescott plus ilori for a net spend of about £2m upfront is fantastic business isn't it?
Add in Scott Sinclair for £2.5m and we've done some potentially cracking business.
-
As Matt says, a better analysis than the Mail manage. Comes to something when This is Anfield are more complimentary about us than our local paper is.
This summer has marked the first time that Sherwood has dipped into the transfer market as a manager and his approach has been telling.
The arrivals of Jordan Amavi (21), Jordan Veretout (22), Adama Traore (19) and Jordan Ayew (23), as well as the promotion of Jack Grealish (19) to a regular role in his first-team squad, show that this is a manager who is unafraid of relying on young talent.
In one successful summer, Villa have gone from having one of the messiest, resource-sapping squads in the Premier League to one of the most attractive and well balanced.
When it became clear that Ilori was available on deadline day, and following his rejection of Sunderland, the move would have represented a win-win situation for Sherwood.
On one hand, Villa were securing the services of one of the most promising young defensive talents on the continent.
Like Adama, Amavi, Veretout and Ayew, Ilori’s potential is vast.
Utilising the centre-back’s talents within his defensive line—be that as a centre-back alongside Micah Richards or Joleon Lescott or as a right-back—Sherwood can nurture Ilori into the Premier League-level talent that he is promising to become.
If Ilori performs well throughout 2015/16, Villa can sign him for what will be a bargain price.
But on the other hand, if Ilori fails to adjust or his injury problems persist Villa have no obligation to make his move permanent.
It’s a no-risk move for Sherwood, and the Villa manager is being much savvier than his Liverpool counterpart.
-
we have made some great signings and going back to my earlier post, I will laugh my balls off if Martial at £36m proves to be less effective in the longer term than Oulare at £6m. Adama at the price we paid for him is still to me the signing of the summer
-
Wanted a PL experienced forward so disappointed that we didn't get one. Other than that Sherwood got rid of a lot of players that really were dead wood.
-
When you compare the players we were being linked with at the start of the window to what we actually brought in I am happy enough.
Sherwood almost willfully has completely torn up the assumptions of many that he would buy Spurs cast offs or over priced British players. Instead he has relied on our scouts and talent staff to do their job and has used his motivation skills to close the deal on several wavering targets.
For where we are as a club I would say the window is good to decent. It could have been better but also a lot worse.
There are a lot of highlights but I think getting Richards on a free may well end up being the jewel in the crown.
-
Very satisfied. Would have been interesting to see Adebayor, but the bloke seems to have a screw loose-not what we need in the dressing room. I think Gestede will prove a lot of people wrong. give him time. Same with Ayew.
I'm satisfied mainly, because having watched every game so far this season, there have been points where I've genuinely enjoyed watching us play again. This has been an absolute rarity over the last 5 years.
Well done to all involved for what they've brought in.
Adebayor might have been ok but for some reason he wanted a sign from Paul McGrath who obviously didn't the rate the twit.
-
Good article that from This is Anfiled
-
I count 20 players out if you count the loans. 13 incoming. Incredible amount of work done in a fairly short period of time. Some great signings, Traore, Gana, Richards, Amavi are top drawer with Veretout, Gestede et all soon be up to speed. Good work and something very positive to build on. I am also enthused by the likes of Sinclair, Ilori too.
-
I've been as impressed with the outgoings almost as much as the incoming players. Okay I didn't particularly want to see Benteke and Reptilian Delph go, but the fact he's managed to shift the likes of Tonev, Luna and Sylla has been astounding really. I honestly thought we'd have to pay clubs to take some of the absolute bloody dross that was clogging up our squad like unflushable turds. I can't believe we mugged someone off with Tonev. A player who is not only monumentally shit but had a cloud of controversy hanging over his head too.
Had Sherwood managed to flog N'Zogbia too, he should have had a Nobel prize.
Our squad now looks competitive and it's also great to be blessed with some genuinely exciting attacking quality too.
That missing striker is a dampener but if we give him the chance, I fancy Kozak to be a surprise package this season. I think he's got goals in him. He's a quality finisher. Ayew will come good.
-
I'd forgotten about Luna, make that 21 players out. I think!
-
I even think the Benteke release clause meant we got more than we would have done in an open market.
-
I even think the Benteke release clause meant we got more than we would have done in an open market.
Never thought of it that way before
But you could be right
-
Without it though we might still have him here.
-
No way. It's incredible we kept him for three years
-
No way. It's incredible we kept him for three years
Not really. Season one he was still untried; season two he was injured in the summer.
-
Getting him to sign a contract after the first season when for all intents and purposes he was gone was nothing short of a miracle. I'll never forget that day going from resignation and disappointment to utter disbelief. But yes, it wasn't that much of a shocker that he was here for three seasons but it would have been if he stayed for much longer.
-
No way. It's incredible we kept him for three years
Not really. Season one he was still untried; season two he was injured in the summer.
I agree it was a quirk of fate that helped to keep him. But nowadays one really good season for a bottom six club and you tend to go.
-
No way. It's incredible we kept him for three years
Not really. Season one he was still untried; season two he was injured in the summer.
I agree it was a quirk of fate that helped to keep him. But nowadays one really good season for a bottom six club and you tend to go.
That's true for English players but not the norm otherwise, most teams like to see if players get found out. I'd go as as as to say that if Benteke had got the same number of goals last season but spread across the year he'd still be with us. It was the run of goals late in the season that made him so valuable and meant we got the release fee. I think I agree with LeeB that we probably have been dealing with offers of 20-25m all summer if the fee wasn't there, it made it easier for us to have a line in the sand and everyone knew there was no negotiation down from it.
-
Whilst we haven't spent much net , it's been a great lot of effort and momentum this window and credit to sherwood for having the balls to take on the challenge (I know he's well paid but he would be anyway somewhere ).
-
Pretty surprising honestly how for all the things the club managed to screw up before Fox/Reilly/Sherwood, they managed to play a blinder with Benteke: scouting him out in the first place, and then getting that new contract with a release clause that really suited both parties.
-
Interesting that Albion are looking to give Berahino a new contract with a £25m release clause. As often happens, we've probably started a new trend.
-
Think release clauses will start to become the norm in all contracts nowadays. Clubs will then know where they stand when the player starts to get the "time to move" urge. Think I read somewhere that in Spain a release clause has to be included in every contract, including Messi and Ronaldo. Would suspect theirs might be approx 1000m euros?
-
yea I think release clauses are the norm across the continent
-
Think release clauses will start to become the norm in all contracts nowadays. Clubs will then know where they stand when the player starts to get the "time to move" urge. Think I read somewhere that in Spain a release clause has to be included in every contract, including Messi and Ronaldo. Would suspect theirs might be approx 1000m euros?
It makes sense, you could introduce a sliding scale where you could say to the player the more we pay you, the higher the fee is.
-
Think release clauses will start to become the norm in all contracts nowadays. Clubs will then know where they stand when the player starts to get the "time to move" urge. Think I read somewhere that in Spain a release clause has to be included in every contract, including Messi and Ronaldo. Would suspect theirs might be approx 1000m euros?
It makes sense, you could introduce a sliding scale where you could say to the player the more we pay you, the higher the fee is.
That's exactly the way it works in Spain, as Fred says there has to legally be a way that the playing rights can be purchased - if the club wants to increase a release clause, the salary goes in line with it. It's why we got Adama as cheaply as we did, he had a low release clause and a fairly low salary. He wasn't keen to sign a new one which would have increased it as he didn't want to carry on with Barcelona B.
As for Messi and Ronaldo, the former's is reportedly €250m, the latter's is reportedly €1b.
-
I am a little surprised by people picking Gana out as the star signing on this thread. He started well but Amavi might better Evra and Traore can be what he wants.
-
and I think we have the best selling windows this summer. Liverpool took advantage of Manchester City money for Sterling.
-
and I think we have the best selling windows this summer. Liverpool took advantage of Manchester City money for Sterling.
Thought that was Everest
-
Apparently we had the 5th highest spend of the window behind Man City, ManU, Chelsea & Liverpool.
I know we generated a lot of money by selling but still, this makes me happy.
-
For those who like to pay attention to things like statistics:
Ayew And Other Bargains From The Premier League's 'Rest'
...the turnaround in personnel at Aston Villa has been nothing short of extraordinary since Tim Sherwood took over the reins from Paul Lambert in February.
The perception that Lambert was not given any financial backing during his three years at the club is, to some extent, an exaggerated tale, but it was still surprising to see Randy Lerner - a man looking to sell the club - sign off on nearly £50m this summer, as Sherwood brought in 13 new faces.
Despite having recorded just one win from four matches, Sherwood will be more than pleased with how two of his summer signings have bedded in at Villa Park. Indeed, no player that joined the Premier League this summer has gained a higher WhoScored.com rating than Jordan Amavi (7.62).
The 21-year-old, an £8m recruit from Nice, has made a promising start to life in the Midlands carrying on the good work that made him WhoScored.com's highest rated left-back across Europe's top five leagues last season (7.74).
Other than his costly mistake against Crystal Palace, it has been a superb start for the France U21 international, who is providing a real attacking threat down Villa's left. In fact, no player has completed more dribbles in the Premier League than Amavi (15) and the youngster already has one assist to his name.
Amavi is also showing a defensive nous that is becoming a lost art for modern defenders. Only four other players - including Villa teammate Micah Richards - have won possession more than Amavi (20) in the defensive third of the pitch.
It hasn't just been the Frenchman who has started brightly for Sherwood, but also his new midfield enforcer Idrissa Gueye. The 25-year-old was the second of four players plucked from Ligue 1 this summer, as part of a raid out of keeping with Villa's recent transfer history.
Upon his arrival, Gueye was immediately tasked with the role of replacing former fan favourite Fabian Delph and, while their styles are slightly different, the Senegal international is already proving an impressive replacement.
The former Lille midfielder has already shown an innate ability to slow down opposition attacks, ranking third tackles and interceptions combined in the Premier League so far (29). Additionally, the Senegalese midfielder has shown he can also relieve pressure having drawn 12 fouls this season, a figure bettered only by Mark Noble (16).
The Villa boss will now be hoping the injury Gueye sustained on international duty isn't too serious with the midfielder looking to build on his 7.44 WhoScored.com rating.
Link (http://www.football365.com/faves/9985036/F365-Feature)