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

[Concrete John]

I'd like to ask you a question John. As you dominate this particular thread most days and that I read you you to seem mostly postive about the direction the club is taking. Did you think, after the Martin's appointment and Randy's takeover, that we would be in the race to sign these kind of players? Four years into it?

I must admit I believed in the dream but after four years, there hasn't been a drastic change, which most expected.

Also, do you attend Villa park.

I wouldn't say I dominate it, but transfer speculation does interest me so I do like to get my two pennies worth on the players we're linked with.

I always thought it was a gradual process - evolution not revolution.  We weren't going to get them in day one, no matter what money we threw at it.  Now, our problem is that although we've caught the chasing pack for the CL spots, we haven't gotten into that exclusive club.  So I think we'll be in that race if/when we're in the CL.  If you're asking did I think we'd be in the CL after four years then my answer is the same as if you were to ask me if we'll qualify next season - hopefully!

And I'm a ST holder in the Upper Trinity.

[Ben H]

From Fulham Mad

Fulham remain favourites to sign Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell.

Out-of-favour Villa midfielder Sidwell is expected to bring in £3m for Villa by joining Fulham. Sidwell is desperate to return to London after two years in the Midlands and will seal his move to Craven Cottage before the start of the season.

[pablopicasso_10]

cant wait for that useless ginga nobhead to leave...

[mattjpa]

good luck to him. I dont know why but he hasnt been the player i hoped he would be. I dont think its a lack of effort, he seems to have a confidence problem and has often looked a bit lost.
   In his defence, its very hard to get into a game when you are introduced on 70+ mins and even the best in the world sometimes struggle.
3m would be welcome and a move to a club like fulham would be good for all 3 parties.....

[MoetVillan]

ginga nobhead that assisted a great goal against Hull last year, and a cracker against Everton the season before.  I still think he is a good player.  Says a lot for our team that he cant get into it

[Monty]

It's not his fault, but he is a bit useless. I've just never been quite sure what he actually does.

[garyshawsknee]

It's not his fault, but he is a bit useless. I've just never been quite sure what he actually does.

 There's always been a few players down the years who fall into this category,he cant tackle,doesnt have a range of passing,goes missing in games(on the odd occasion he plays). I thought when we bought him he be an average signing on par with Knight,Harewood and a few others. Don't believe we'd get 3 mill for him though.

[BedsVillain]

It's not his fault, but he is a bit useless. I've just never been quite sure what he actually does.

I know what you mean Monty, he's not a prolific tackler, he's not a creative type either...but he was our lucky mascot for a good few games last season or the one before I forget which?! He works well in a 3, by..well just being there really.

I think it is glaringly obvious we have played our best football under MON with a midfield 3, just imagine how effective that would be if the 3 players we use are an improvement on the 3 used in recent times.

Monty what are your thoughts on Witsel? Personally I would love him as our DM. I think him, Delph and Ireland would make a great 3, with age on their side too!

[Monty]

He's just middle of the road is Sidwell. He's meant to be an all-rounder, but unlike Essien who's around 7-9 out of ten for everything, Sidwell is 4-6 for everything on that scale.

Beds, my problems with Witsel are firstly that he gets a fair amount of reflected glory from Defour and previously Fellaini, without ever really convincing me in his reading of the game. A decent creative force from deep, but not really mature and the sudden step up from Belgium to the Premier League would, in my view, be too much for him. Defour would be great, I think he's ready for the step up, and I'm not convinced we need a new defensive midfielder just yet, with Petrov looking generally fine to me and Delph being very promising in this area.

[Clampy]

I just can't see Suarez happening. He would be the perfect buy for me.
It would be great if we could just lay a 20m offer on Ajax's table. Even if the bid failed it would be a wonderful sign of intent and would undoubtedly raise spirits amongst us fans, perhaps bringing back some of the excitement created four years ago.

Making a bid for a player you know will be rejected in order to keep the fans happy is exactly what that shower of shite down the road do.  We should be and are better than that.

Agree entirely. It's what Gold and Sullivan have done ever since they walked throught the door at West Ham. We tried to sign Beckham, we're interested in Henry etc. Let's not go down that sorry road.

[Shrek]

My ideal transfer window regarding forwards would be Heskey out Huntelaar in and Carew too stay! I'm not keen on  Keane at all.

I think Gabby, Carew, Huntelaar and Fonz would be brilliant!

[JJ-AV]

I think Sidwell will do all right at a smaller club with less expectation, less pressure and a regular place.

Alongside Murphy or Etuhu, he'll do well there.

[BedsVillain]

He's just middle of the road is Sidwell. He's meant to be an all-rounder, but unlike Essien who's around 7-9 out of ten for everything, Sidwell is 4-6 for everything on that scale.

Beds, my problems with Witsel are firstly that he gets a fair amount of reflected glory from Defour and previously Fellaini, without ever really convincing me in his reading of the game. A decent creative force from deep, but not really mature and the sudden step up from Belgium to the Premier League would, in my view, be too much for him. Defour would be great, I think he's ready for the step up, and I'm not convinced we need a new defensive midfielder just yet, with Petrov looking generally fine to me and Delph being very promising in this area.

I think Witsel would adjust ok to the Prem, it may take a season of gently bedding him in, a bit like MON was doing with Delph until the injury. Defour I agree is a cracking player, but he only signed a new five year contract with Standard in March. This could be to allow them to get top dollar for him, a good will gesture from him, after the leg break etc...

The thing I like about Witsel is his size and presence, having a good 6 footer in the middle of the park would be a good assest IMO.

I do, however, think MON will keep hold of NRC this summer and let him see out his contract to cover Delph's injury.

[Ben H]

Villa given striker go-ahead

Aston Villa, 17:16, July 12, 2010

Monaco coach Guy Lacombe says he will allow Aston Villa to talk to South Korea striker Park Chu-Young if they match his asking price.

The 25-year-old impressed during the World Cup, scoring in the 2-2 with Nigeria as the Asian nation surprisingly reached the knock out stages of the competition.

Park has spent the last two years in France where he has only managed 14 goals in 67 appearances but his work rate and energy has caught the eye of a number of Premier League sides, including Villa, Everton and Fulham.

While there have been no concrete offers for the forward so far Lacombe says he won't stand in Park's way should Villa meet his asking price.
"I don't know anything about transfer rumours," said Lacombe.
"Even if an offer came we have no mind to sell the player. But in football I think there is no such word as 'never'."

Great!  The South Korean Emile Heskey!!

[Monty]

I can see the value of having taller players at the back, but I can't really say that see the point of it in the middle of the pitch. Petrov is a superb defensive midfielder, tackling cleanly, intercepting constantly, almost never losing the ball and following up as the last man forward a lot of the time. He's also one of the best at winning free kicks around. He doesn't really need size.