Summer 2010 Transfer Thread: B*llsh*t, Rumours & Wishes

[Monty]

Holding midfielders are only really used at the highest level, they're often passengers in the Premier League now.

Of last seasons top 6 only Chelsea and arguably Citeh (although De Jong doesn't exactly sit) used them most weeks.

It's in the Champions League where they have their worth IMO.

Even in the Champions' League, only Inter of the last few winners have played with bona fide holding players - and they really are defensive. For Barcelona, it's hard to argue that Toure or Busquets, or Van Bommel a few years ago, really just hung back and never crossed into the attacking third a la Makelele. Likewise for Man Utd, Carrick and Anderson were more rounded players. In 2007 for Milan, Ambrosini, Seedorf and even Gattuso were given wider briefs to attack and defend, while Pirlo and Kaka are playmakers in deep and attacking midfield respectively.

The trend at the top is actually away from the limited specialist player and towards the more well rounded player, like Flamini or even Petrov. That's where we should be aiming. Smaller teams - Sunderland with Cattermole, Blackburn with Nzonzi and Andrews, Bolton with Muamba - utilise the talentless kicker. Even Mascherano can pass, even Palacios can drive forward, even Fellaini can play-make from deep. The kicker is no longer an option at the top level.

[eamonn]

The man doing the article asked for a caption - show some respect.

[JJ-AV]

And even Chelsea have just signed Ramires to replace Mikel...

Ramires is a much more attacking player than Mikel. He's more of a Ballack replacement if anything.

Exactly my point.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Apart from Midfield swap. Do you think there will be any more transfer in Villa Park over next two weeks. ie new striker or whatever. I think there will be one more  departure. (Please Heskey)

[BedsVillain]

Apart from Midfield swap. Do you think there will be any more transfer in Villa Park over next two weeks. ie new striker or whatever. I think there will be one more  departure. (Please Heskey)

I think we will get another midfielder in with some of the Milner money and if we shift at least two of the 'deadwood' i.e Heskey & Sidwell we may well splash some money on a top notch goal machine striker, call it a present from Randy to the fans for a summer of discontent. Flamini and someone like Radamel Falcao will do!

[JJ-AV]

I'm hopeful of one more after Ireland.

If we're singing anything I reckon centre forward though.

[Mister E]

Nah - we'll wait until the new man is confirmed and perhaps do some business in January.
I'd like to see a goal machine but I think they'll out their trust in Gabby and Delfouneso ... rightly so if they can get the delivery fron out wide that they were achieving on Saturday.

[pauliewalnuts]

Surely the fact that Ireland has come as part of the deal will lay to rest this "Lerner wants to move Milner on for the money, and they can't spend any of it" nonsense.

If Lerner wanted to do that, he'd have insisted on cash only, rather than spending 10m of it as part of the deal.

[PaulWinch again]

Surely the fact that Ireland has come as part of the deal will lay to rest this "Lerner wants to move Milner on for the money, and they can't spend any of it" nonsense.

If Lerner wanted to do that, he'd have insisted on cash only, rather than spending 10m of it as part of the deal.

Precisely, although the media will ignore that fact.

[eastie]

Maybe we can pick up keane on the cheap- spurs 3-0 down after 25 mins in Switzerland .

Poor poor harry hehe!

[supertom]

Surely the fact that Ireland has come as part of the deal will lay to rest this "Lerner wants to move Milner on for the money, and they can't spend any of it" nonsense.

If Lerner wanted to do that, he'd have insisted on cash only, rather than spending 10m of it as part of the deal.

Precisely, although the media will ignore that fact.

I certainly don't believe the purse strings were gonna be closed by Randy. Perhaps half closed to O Neill given his money wasting. But a new manager coming in, I'd be sure there would be more cash immediately available. Within reason. Any new boss worth his salt will immediately look to shift quite few of the crap players we have. Starting with Sidwell and Heskey.

Though to be fair, I'd like to see how both fare under K Mac, or any potential new manager. Particularly Sidwell who almost to a man, most felt was a great signing when we first got him.

[Chris Smith]

Surely the fact that Ireland has come as part of the deal will lay to rest this "Lerner wants to move Milner on for the money, and they can't spend any of it" nonsense.

If Lerner wanted to do that, he'd have insisted on cash only, rather than spending 10m of it as part of the deal.

The wages issue is still there though. Ireland for Milner probably cancel ech other out but the mantra all summer is that the wages have to be brought under control so any new signings will need to be offset by getting other off the books so I'd imagine that some of  Luke Young, Davies, Sidwell, Heskey and Reo Coker are going to have to be moved on. Unless they decide to give it a year due to a new man coming in.

[Phil from the upper holte]

There is no number 9 so i expect to see a striker sometime soon

Fingers crossed

[pauliewalnuts]

Heskey, Beye, Davies and Sidwell are the ones we could move on with little or no damage to squad strength.

Allow NRC off the naughty step, release Sidwell, promote Lichaj as back up RB behind Young, lose Davies, have Cuellar, Collins, Dunne and Clark at CB, and replace Heskey with any inanimate object you care to name.

[Salsa Party Animal]

so apart from Robbie Keane who else might be available for striker. (Hopefully Heskey as well for other club to buy)