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

[Chris Smith]

So because we need a left back we don't sign player for any other position? Our squad is amongst the smallest in the league, there is a strong chance that Reo Coker and Young will go in the summer, Larsson is available now for a modest fee, can play in a number of positions and is already proven in the PL not a player of promise like our youngsters. I don't see what the problem is.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

So because we need a left back we don't sign player for any other position? Our squad is amongst the smallest in the league, there is a strong chance that Reo Coker and Young will go in the summer, Larsson is available now for a modest fee, can play in a number of positions and is already proven in the PL not a player of promise like our youngsters. I don't see what the problem is.

The squad was small under O'Neill, but you never had any problem with it then.
Why now?

[Chris Smith]

The Mail take on it.

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2011/01/27/exclusive-birmingham-city-and-aston-villa-consider-sebastian-larsson-curtis-davies-swap-deal-97319-28065171/?

[Merv]

My point is. We have Ash, Gabby, Downing and Albrighton already who play on the right. Why do we need a very average player on high wages sitting on the bench ?? If he was a top class left back its a straight yes .........

Hmmm. Houllier has already said he sees Young only playing off the striker, and it's been discussed at length how ill at ease Downing looks on the right. Gabby does okay playing wide in an attacking three, but what if Houllier wants us to play a tight 4-4-2 one week? Or a midfield three - who plays on the right of the three? Larsson could do that job.

We sign Larsson, we don't Larsson, doesn't make much difference to me. But when we look at a bench that can still contain Pires and Herd, we shouldn't dismiss Larsson so easily.

We actually haven't got a player of his style in the squad.

[pedro25]

Downing is better on the left, Young also, or through the middle and Gabby is better through the middle.  Only Marc is a natural right winger and we don't have a right sided midfield option for some games where we would be better off with only one flying winger and the bloke on the other side being a bit more solid, so I could see the logic.

I'm delighted with our recent wins, but for me we still have too many players playing out of position, centre backs at right and left back, strikers left mid, left wingers on the right wing or through the middle etc.  Many GH wants a solid right mid so Downing can revert to the left, and Gabby and Marc can be impact subs or rotation players with Larson, Downing, Young, Bent, Heskey etc. 

[Chris Smith]

So because we need a left back we don't sign player for any other position? Our squad is amongst the smallest in the league, there is a strong chance that Reo Coker and Young will go in the summer, Larsson is available now for a modest fee, can play in a number of positions and is already proven in the PL not a player of promise like our youngsters. I don't see what the problem is.

The squad was small under O'Neill, but you never had any problem with it then.
Why now?

Of course I wanted us to improve the squad, not just any old player but those who I thought would improve it. I think he's a decent player so I can see the sense in it, if it was Michael Brown I'd be against it.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

So because we need a left back we don't sign player for any other position? Our squad is amongst the smallest in the league, there is a strong chance that Reo Coker and Young will go in the summer, Larsson is available now for a modest fee, can play in a number of positions and is already proven in the PL not a player of promise like our youngsters. I don't see what the problem is.

The squad was small under O'Neill, but you never had any problem with it then.
Why now?

Of course I wanted us to improve the squad, not just any old player but those who I thought would improve it. I think he's a decent player so I can see the sense in it, if it was Michael Brown I'd be against it.

Fair enough Chris.
Personally, I don't think he's good enough.
And that's nothing to do with him playing for the Blues.
Still, he'll be effectively costing nothing.

It rankles that we're letting Davies go after paying £9.5m for him.
Was he worth perservering with?

Clearly Gerard thinks not.

[Concrete John]

There is a danger of having just the starting 11 and then the kids, so some experienced squad back up is needed, however this needs to be balanced with not holding our excellent youth back.  As we stand right now, the experienced players who would likely get a look in but normally be outside our first choice 11 are Petrov or NRC, Cuellar, Heskey, Luke Young and Gabby (sorry - don't like him wide and Bent starts as striker).  That forms the basis of a pretty decent squad to me, so I'd be reluctant to sign any more 'squad' players.

[eastie]

Interesting jj that you say larsson was played at left back and right back at arsenal, that would make more sense if he can cover either full back position too, I'm sure houllier will have had a chat with wenger about his qualities , maybe he even sees him in a full back role ?

[Chris Smith]

It rankles that we're letting Davies go after paying £9.5m for him.
Was he worth perservering with?

In an ideal world, yes, but his chances are going to be limited, he's costing us in wages and it si probably fairer to the man to give him an opportunity elsewhere. I wish it wasn't to that bunch but if that is the best offer from our point of view we can't let it bother us.

[Merv]

Agree on holding back the youth. For me, it's all about the positions. I think we're light in two specific areas right now: we're well stocked at RB, CB, CM, LM/W and up front. I suppose too at GK with two senior 'keepers and another on loan we can recall (though we've got to strengthen in the summer to replace Brad Snr).

We're light at LB and RM as I see it. Okay, we've got one or two young lads who may do a squad job at LB, but not even sure if we've got a young RM coming through.

[Concrete John]

We're light at LB and RM as I see it. Okay, we've got one or two young lads who may do a squad job at LB, but not even sure if we've got a young RM coming through.

I think we'd be better covered at RM if Gezza didn't insist on playing Young off the striker.  I see Albrighton as first choice, but if he's not available I'd like to see Ash play there (better on the right than Downing) and someone else come into the centre.  Or maybe even go 4-4-2 with Gabby up top with bent.

Totally agree about LB.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Think we should tell Blues to stump up cash only for Davies.

I don't want Larsson at Villa. Gobby little feckwit that he is.

[sfx412]

How many tries do people want to give Davies? Mon made a mistake it happens, especially where he's concerned.

Larson would be a good deal, PL experience, plays in several positions, just what we need. As to Pires, how do we know it hasn't worked out. He was only here to tide us over and he did. Its not as though he cost Beye's fee or Salifou's wages is it.

[Mazrim]

Actually, he might make a decent fuill back. He's tenacious enough and his delivery is unquestionably good.

O.K, from the point of view of versatility I'm slowly coming around to the idea.
Slowly.