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

[SoccerHQ]

If Fulham offered 5m combined for Shorey and Sidwell I'd probably take that. Neither will be missed.

Can't see us getting too much for NRC with him being in the last year of his deal so we might aswell make more use of him in his final season especially with Delph broken until Xmas.

[Mazrim]

I'd still rather keep NRC around.

[SoccerHQ]

Yeah but we'd need to play him as a regular as I don't see the logic of him bench warming and then leaving on a free at the end of the season.

And unless we put a gun to his head, there's no chance of him signing a new contract after the way he's been treated.

[Mazrim]

How has he been treated badly? He was fairly regular before his bust up with MON and then injury.

I dont mind moving him on if we really get some cover in but I think we can still use him in rotation (yes, alright, stop sniggering).

[bob]

Could be a spot for him at right back next season.

[SoccerHQ]

How has he been treated badly? He was fairly regular before his bust up with MON and then injury.

I dont mind moving him on if we really get some cover in but I think we can still use him in rotation (yes, alright, stop sniggering).

Playing RB for a lot of 08/09 (before Carlos) when he badly wanted to play in midfield...and had actually started that season well in midfield.

Then last season after the shocker at home to Wigan, came into the team at Wigan and was outstanding but dropped shortly after that when he had the fight with MON. He came back into the team for the 5-1 win over Bolton...and was dropped for the next league game.

And when he was fit for the run in he didn't play a single minute. He's not amazing but baffled how Sidwell was often favoured ahead of him last season.

[peter w]

He may be a rat faced c*** - but this is my favourite ever sledge...

Ricky Ponting and Shaun Pollock.

After going past the outside edge with a couple of deliveries, Pollock told Ponting: "It's red, round and weighs about five ounces." Unfortunately for Pollock, the next ball was hammered out of the ground. Ponting to Pollock: "you know what it looks like, now go find it."

I thought that was Greg Thomas bowling to Viv Richards?

Yeah, that was originally a Richards sledge.

back to McGrath and his wife, if the batsman had have mentioned his sibling  rather than his wife, would it have been a Sister Sledge?

[mshurst]

How has he been treated badly? He was fairly regular before his bust up with MON and then injury.

I dont mind moving him on if we really get some cover in but I think we can still use him in rotation (yes, alright, stop sniggering).

Personally, I think the only reason we didn't have 'rotation' is due to our severe lack of 'capable' players.

E.g. Beye was a mistake. Delph is good but still needs a little further Premier League training. Sidwell was ... well ... useless. Reo was good until he had his little bust-up, and then MON lost faith in him.

However, kudos to MON for training Milner in the centre.

This is why I'd welcome Pienaar (should it happen). Young and Downing are capable and by adding Pienaar can only make things super-fantastic-o!

[mcgrath_85]

If your theory is correct then MON hasn't done very well in his 4 years. He's spent a lot of money on incapable players then. Surely four years and the money spent should result in a capable "squad".

[Chris Smith]

If your theory is correct then MON hasn't done very well in his 4 years. He's spent a lot of money on incapable players then. Surely four years and the money spent should result in a capable "squad".

A squad that finishsed 6th, reached a cup final and a semi final is at the very least 'capable'.

[mcgrath_85]

I think the original point was that our squad is incapable. Not the starting 11/13.
I would say that our squad is capable but the manager either didn't think so or just really is intent on not tinkering with starting line up unless a player is under fifty per cent or asks why the fuck am I not playing.

[Chris Smith]

I think the original point was that our squad is incapable. Not the starting 11/13.
I would say that our squad is capable but the manager either didn't think so or just really is intent on not tinkering with starting line up unless a player is under fifty per cent or asks why the fuck am I not playing.

The sqaud was used a lot in the cups and we used a lot more than 11/13 players in the league.

[mshurst]

If your theory is correct then MON hasn't done very well in his 4 years. He's spent a lot of money on incapable players then. Surely four years and the money spent should result in a capable "squad".

I did not say that. I'm extremely impressed with MON, he's the best thing to happen to AVFC for a long, long time. And I am one of the Villa fans who is happy to finish 6th purely because of how much MON has turned this team around.

What I'm saying is that MON needs to focus on making the squad bigger. Getting more players in of equal ability to help with rotation. Maybe then we can get better than 6th as the players won't start to fatigue seriously at the end of the season.

And yes, Chris, I was more than impressed ... infact I was extatic that Villa got into a Final and a Semi-final. I personally think that with a larger squad with substitues of equal level we could have won at least one of them trophies.

[andyh]

I have to go down to London next week so if Sidders needs a lift.....

[mattjpa]

What I'm saying is that MON needs to focus on making the squad bigger. Getting more players in of equal ability to help with rotation. Maybe then we can get better than 6th as the players won't start to fatigue seriously at the end of the season.

I disagree. I think that even with an improved squad, MON would still try and use 13players all season. He needs to change his 1980's mentality before changing the squad. I think most professionals in the game know this and prob wouldnt come to us unless guarenteed a starting place for fear of having their career stalled. I think NRC, Luke Young, Delph and Curtis Davies are all more than capable for the level we are hoping to aspire to yet were used sparingly last season for no clear reason as far as im concerned. They will prob all move on and we will be back to square 1. Cahill is a prime example, as is whittingham at cardiff.
I also dont see clark, albrighton and bannan coming on the way they should unless given a good chance next season