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

[Concrete John]

If you do what you've always done you'll get what you've always got.

Dunne, Collins, Warnock (who I actually rate) were pretty underwhelming signings last summer, lets face it. "Judge them at the end of the season," and so on.

They turned out to be solid, dependable players. But then we knew that already, didn't we?

They ultimately didn't help us improve our league position from the previous season, decent though they were.

The summer previous we spent £45 million largely on solid, dependable homebased PL players and consolidated 6th position. I'm not knocking the consistency and aptitude required for managing that. But do we continue to set that as the target, marginally better than the previous season but no marked improvement in league placing?

Or do we step out of the bunker?

Actually, I agree with you!

But the players we've signed seem to be mainly defenders, midfielders and squad players, for which I think 'solid and dependable' is a very good trait to have.  Where you talk about players to more dramatically improve us, I don't think of glamour names or where they come from, I think of the positions they would play, which for me is striker, wingers and playmakers - the match winners.  We've done well with Carew, Milner and Young, but less well with Heskey and Harewood - Downing is to be decided.  The lack of activity here is partly due to having Gabby coming though, IMO.

So when I think of 'step out of the bunker' it's not matter of going shopping abroad or not, it's a matter of bringing in players from wherever that can win matches for us.  A shift in the focus from being hard to beat to an added goal threat, for which I think where the players come from has no relevance.

[Concrete John]

OK, just so I've got this straight:

Are you actually trying to argue that MON's signings to date haven't been predictable? Really?

I can think of maybe one (Carew) which was pretty much out of the blue and another (Harewood) where I couldn't believe it at the time. Still don't, in fact.

But for the rest there was no great mystery to them.

I think our difference is what we class as predictable:-

If a month before we sign a player I had no idea we were going to, then I'd class that as unpredictable.  If after we sign him it could be said "Yeah, I knew we'd get someone like that", then you seem to count that as predictable.

[JUAN PABLO]

Cole
Zamora
Keane
Doyle


For the forwards

Midfield you've probably got a huge selection from:

Ireland
Jenas

Or someone from either (a) one of the relegated sides or (b) one of the sides who narrowly avoided the drop.

I'll plump for Sean Davis at Bolton.

Bendtner from Arsenal might also be worth a flutter if the Gooners sign some decent forwards this summer.

you are putting me off my breakfast ;s

[Des Little]

Signing players from the bottom feeders or recently relegated sides is a Villa trait that I would like to think we've moved on from.  We need players that other teams desire, not those looking to jump ship.  And Bendtner can stay exactly where he is please.

[eastie]

Andy Carroll anyone? Seems to be a better shot than Doyle or Carlton cole- he's learned his trade under shearer and could be decent for us.

[Bosco81]

If you do what you've always done you'll get what you've always got.

Dunne, Collins, Warnock (who I actually rate) were pretty underwhelming signings last summer, lets face it. "Judge them at the end of the season," and so on.

They turned out to be solid, dependable players. But then we knew that already, didn't we?

They ultimately didn't help us improve our league position from the previous season, decent though they were.

Our defence was in disarray at the end of the 08/09 season and if we hadn't improved it I think we would have struggled to finish Top 10, MON did improve it, but going forward was were we did not improve on the previouys season which ultimately is why our league placing stayed the same.

Whether that is because Petrov sat deeper last season to protect the back four I don't know, we need more of a varied attacking threat, what we desperately need are a couple of people on the bench to change things if we are still 0-0 after 70 minutes rather than just change Heskey for Carew.

[LeeB]

Andy Carroll anyone? Seems to be a better shot than Doyle or Carlton cole- he's learned his trade under shearer and could be decent for us.

I'm not convinced, although I haven't seen that much of him. Maz likes him though, I think he's his new Yakubu.

And Richard Walker learned his trade training with Dwight Yorke, but it didn't stop him being bobbins.

[KevinGage]

Heard a few people championing his name.

Definitely one to watch, see if he can do what he did to Championship sides in the Prem.

If Newcastle sink without trace on return they might look to cash in next summer. Couldn't see him moving before then.

[eastie]

When I've seen Carroll he looks a decent strong forward with a good first touch but excellent in the air- I think he would probably cost about £8m but for a 21 yr old it would be a decent price, when compared to cole and Doyle.

[PaulTheVillan]

Man City have bid £19m for Edison Cavani.

He's a good striker.

Very good on FM. :)

[Concrete John]

I want any new striker to have an influence on the way we play, and by that I mean change it and give us options.  To me Carroll, and I'll admit I haven't seen too much of him, wouldn't do that as he's too similar to Carew and Heskey.

If they both left and he came in alongside another striker, then fine.

[PaulTheVillan]

I want any new striker to have an influence on the way we play, and by that I mean change it and give us options.  To me Carroll, and I'll admit I haven't seen too much of him, wouldn't do that as he's too similar to Carew and Heskey.

If they both left and he came in alongside another striker, then fine.

A new manager and coaches would be a better way of changing how we play.

[LeeB]

I want any new striker to have an influence on the way we play, and by that I mean change it and give us options.  To me Carroll, and I'll admit I haven't seen too much of him, wouldn't do that as he's too similar to Carew and Heskey.

If they both left and he came in alongside another striker, then fine.

A new manager and coaches would be a better way of changing how we play.

Yeah, brilliant idea again.

You should twitter it.

[old man villa fan]

I want any new striker to have an influence on the way we play, and by that I mean change it and give us options.  To me Carroll, and I'll admit I haven't seen too much of him, wouldn't do that as he's too similar to Carew and Heskey.

If they both left and he came in alongside another striker, then fine.

A new manager and coaches would be a better way of changing how we play.

I get this strange feeling that you do not rate the manager.  When did the record get stuck or have you always been against him since day one.

[PaulTheVillan]

I want any new striker to have an influence on the way we play, and by that I mean change it and give us options.  To me Carroll, and I'll admit I haven't seen too much of him, wouldn't do that as he's too similar to Carew and Heskey.

If they both left and he came in alongside another striker, then fine.

A new manager and coaches would be a better way of changing how we play.

I get this strange feeling that you do not rate the manager.  When did the record get stuck or have you always been against him since day one.

I was happy with the appointment.

He's done Ok, but the football is getting worse, there's been quite a bit of dosh spent and I can't see him taking us any further.