January Transfer Window - Rumours, Links, B*llsh*t and Made-Up Nonsense

[LeeB]

I was here first. LeeS should be forced into introducing an underscore or hyphen to help Bob, who's questionable vision can maybe traced back to his decadent lifestyle.

[Concrete John]

So, we have B and S talking about us signing Benzema.  There's a joke in there somewhere.....

[Mazrim]

My mate has just seen Benzema driving out of Car Park 4 at the Kingfisher Shopping Centre in Redditch. He knew it was Benzema as the number plate said BEN53MA

Yeah, he's been into Poundstretcher to stock up on shaving foam, kitchen roll and a pallett load of Hyundai AA batteries.

I saw that too. Parked next to him was K4Z 5LA6, which is of course, Karren Brady's car.

[eamonn]

I have said before that it was said that the MON/Reo Coker falling out was over Delfuenso not trying in training. Has he become a Billy Big Bollocks who thinks he has made it already? He seems to be going the way of the Moores

That's a very good, and quite worrying, point.

And yet 8 months later during the run-in MON brought him off the bench to win us what at the time time were a crucial 3 points at Pompey.

Of all the positions to blood a young player up-front is probably the toughest/riskiest to call. As long as he's working hard in the reserves and training, and there's nothing to suggest either (though he's certainly scoring consistently for the stiffs) I'm confident he'll get a chance between now and the New Year.

[N'ZMAV]

It's a shame Delfouneso hasn't had a chance, especially with Carew being unreliable and Gabby injured. This was as good a time as any to give him a run.

[Fasth56]

[/quote]

is in the anticipation and not the delivery.
[/quote]

Not what my wife says!

[VillaZogmariner]

Our kid reckons he's heard a whisper that we'll try to get Benzema on loan in the new year.

It was probably his own whisper though, in his sleep, just before he woke up.

Nothing against you personally, but I hate posts like this as I always find a way to convince myself it's a possibility (not getting a look in at Madrid, Geeza's French Connection, etc.) to the point where I start imagining where he would best fit in the team.

And I always end up disapointed.

You'll learn one day John that the joy, just like Christmas, is in the anticipation and not the delivery.

That is the excuse I use with the missus every night!

[VillaZogmariner]

From BBC Gossip/Daily Heil

Aston Villa are ready to rival Liverpool in a bid for Preston's £4m-rated defender Sean St Ledger.

I'm pretty sure we're well enough stocked in the centre of defence.

Also, isn't he the Villa fan who wanted to score the goal that stopped Blues coming up a couple of years ago?

[JJ-AV]

He's an ex Holte End season ticket holder.

[brontebilly]

Had a quick look around the squad - age wise it doesnt make pretty reading. Think this period is similar to when Little took over - a lot of Atkinson's players had done well for the club but time waits for noone unfortunately. A big job ahead really - not likely we will get too much done in Jan - another reason to despise MON to be honest, think he realised what was ahead. Cant understand the need to give Brad Friedel a contract either. We could cash in and use the funds elsewhere for a younger keeper - Shay Given. Anyway a bit of wheeling and dealing is needed.

Prime candidates for the chop in Jan

Habib Beye - 33 on a decent wedge, looked half decent when he has played this season so someone might take a punt on him
Luke Young - 31, could do us for a couple more seasons but on big wages and best days are over
Warnock 29, - one of MON worst signings really 8m for him was criminal. Anyway he has had plenty of injury problems in his career and I cant see him playing past 32 or 33 really. His best days are definitely over and even though we are short at left back - anything around the 4m mark should be considered I reckon.
Carew 31, a good player for the Villa - top scored every season under MON. Injury prone though and best days are over for sure. He finished last season great but looks finished. Pity we didnt cash in during the summer but he could be a tempter for someone fighting relegation.
Heskey almost 33, better of late but best days over and pace is gone. An offer anything more than a million needs to be considered in Jan.
Sidwell 27, not good enough but we wont be seeing more than 1.5m for him. Best of keeping him for cover with Petrov and Delph's injury problems Id suggest.
Petrov 31, best days over, injury problems and legs on the wane. Again offers to be considered and I think he will attract some attention if we were looking for a swap deal.

Then the big decision - we have 5 decent centre halves on the book. Davies probably not as good as the rest but proved at times next to Laursen that he was a decent centre half.
Collins - 27 - no question - staying
Clark - 21 - as above
Davies 25 - do we really want to take a 4 or 5m loss on a player than is 25 and is def better than his recent performances suggest?
Cuellar 29 - getting a raw deal at the moment. Looks in good condition so maybe 3 or 4 years left in him. Bound to be interest
Dunne 31 - in the EPL team of the year last year. A few months later are we saying he isnt good enough? The thing is the condition he turned up in this summer was disgraceful, I think he is fine now but the days of boozing when back at Everton and Man City are bound to affect him soon. Cant see him playing past 33/34 at a high level so maybe it makes sense to cash in. Plenty of clubs will be interested and to be honest I think he should be the one to make way.

we need to find players at right back, left back, centre midfield especially and also up front. Players like Mark Noble, Joey Barton, Jose Enrique, Steven Pienaar, Clint Dempsey could be tempted I reckon.

[taylorsworkrate]

From BBC Gossip/Daily Heil

Aston Villa are ready to rival Liverpool in a bid for Preston's £4m-rated defender Sean St Ledger.

I'm pretty sure we're well enough stocked in the centre of defence.

Also, isn't he the Villa fan who wanted to score the goal that stopped Blues coming up a couple of years ago?

Anyone remember that show a 3 or 4 years back, Big Ron Manager?  Predictably poor programme of course.

St Ledger was in the peterborough team that Ron acted as a consultant to.  He came across as a massive tosser.

[N'ZMAV]

Joey Barton? Good player, we all know that. But...

[N'ZMAV]

Players I'd be looking at if I was GH are:

Joleon Lescott
Jordan Henderson
Hugo Rodallega
Dario Srna
Charles N'Zogbia
Scott Parker.

I don't really expect any of them to sign during Jan though.

[Mazrim]

Players like Mark Noble, Joey Barton, Jose Enrique, Steven Pienaar, Clint Dempsey could be tempted I reckon.

Oof!

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I think a few of Gerard's targets will be overseas players we've heard very little of.

Which will be novel.