Kyle Walker

[Clampy]

I'm not sure what to make of this one. It comes across to me as a bit pointless, but good luck to the lad, i hope he does well here.

[LeeB]

If he does such an astonishing job that either Spurs want to put him straight into their first team

I think that is the issue with a lot of people right there. From challenging for a top four place with Spurs last season to testing out their young players for them in one season seems like an alarming slump in ambition, seemingly from the top down. I want him to be a success obviously but bloody hell, a Spurs loanee with only two Prem games to his name?

It is what it is though Stu, and do we refuse deals like this on the basis of pride, or do we do what needs to be done to sort out our mess?

Of course, but say if he goes back to Spurs in the summer, what then? Mind you, I do agree that we need some short term fixes to get us through to the end of season with our PL status intact.

This is us isn't it? The Villa. From triumph to disaster one season to the next.

Absolutely!

[Dave]

If he does such an astonishing job that either Spurs want to put him straight into their first team

I think that is the issue with a lot of people right there. From challenging for a top four place with Spurs last season to testing out their young players for them in one season seems like an alarming slump in ambition, seemingly from the top down. I want him to be a success obviously but bloody hell, a Spurs loanee with only two Prem games to his name?

It is what it is though Stu, and do we refuse deals like this on the basis of pride, or do we do what needs to be done to sort out our mess?

Of course, but say if he goes back to Spurs in the summer, what then?

And if he does well and stays with us?

[Stu]

If he does such an astonishing job that either Spurs want to put him straight into their first team

I think that is the issue with a lot of people right there. From challenging for a top four place with Spurs last season to testing out their young players for them in one season seems like an alarming slump in ambition, seemingly from the top down. I want him to be a success obviously but bloody hell, a Spurs loanee with only two Prem games to his name?

It is what it is though Stu, and do we refuse deals like this on the basis of pride, or do we do what needs to be done to sort out our mess?

Of course, but say if he goes back to Spurs in the summer, what then?

And if he does well and stays with us?

Then bully for us. As I said, I want him to do well. You have to admit though that this is a stark insight into where we are financially. I don't want to start going on about ambition or lack thereof, but with signings like this, regardless of league position and current form, it just gives me the impression that we'll never make a big splash ever again. Its almost as if the board have accepted that we're mid-table to outside contenders for Europe at best.

Harrumph.

[JUAN PABLO]

the transfer window has been open 5 days , can we wait until Feb 1st before we start slagging our transfer policy off....

[Dave]

If he does such an astonishing job that either Spurs want to put him straight into their first team

I think that is the issue with a lot of people right there. From challenging for a top four place with Spurs last season to testing out their young players for them in one season seems like an alarming slump in ambition, seemingly from the top down. I want him to be a success obviously but bloody hell, a Spurs loanee with only two Prem games to his name?

It is what it is though Stu, and do we refuse deals like this on the basis of pride, or do we do what needs to be done to sort out our mess?

Of course, but say if he goes back to Spurs in the summer, what then?

And if he does well and stays with us?

Then bully for us. As I said, I want him to do well. You have to admit though that this is a stark insight into where we are financially. I don't want to start going on about ambition or lack thereof, but with signings like this, regardless of league position and current form, it just gives me the impression that we'll never make a big splash ever again. Its almost as if the board have accepted that we're mid-table to outside contenders for Europe at best.

Harrumph.

To me it strikes as very non-committal. Houllier clearly isn't doing the job they expected but something needs to be done. We need players to come in to play in various positions and he is the first.

So, we get a good, potentially excellent player to help the survival effort. If by some miracle we have a great end to the season and we persevere with Houllier beyond the summer then we sign Walker and the current manager's rebuilding effort continues. If we carry on our current form and just survive (or don't) then the new manager comes in and can buy him if he wants or can send him back if he doesn't want him. £3m hasn't been spent on someone else to clear out in the future.

We clearly can't bring nobody in. I don't think that anybody would be happy giving Houllier £25m to spend this January given the current circumstances.

Seems like a perfectly sensible compromise in my view.

[tarzansbrother]

the transfer window has been open 5 days , can we wait until Feb 1st before we start slagging our transfer policy off....

I know what with Cummings and walker on loan it's a sparkling start.

[Greg N'Ash]

If all we get in January is a few youth players on loan then we are buggered. Whatever blame you can point at GH with regards to getting the best out of the existing players there's at least 2 or 3 positions that need major investment now.

[PaulTheVillan]

It's early on Greg. I'm sure the 'bigger' names will take a little longer to get hold of. I'm sure everyone is working around the clock to improve the current situation.

[Lobsterboy]

Welcome to Villa Kyle and good luck for the rest of the season.

I couldn't care less if he's a Spurs, Small Heath or Henshaw's School for the Blind player; if he improves the team/squad then he is worth a chance - even for 4 months

He can't be any worse than Young/Lichaj or Cuellar have been in that position this season can he? He might even keep us up!

[Greg N'Ash]

I hope so paul.

[PaulTheVillan]

I hope so paul.

We're all hoping.

[TheSandman]

If this is with view to a permanent deal then it's an excellent move. I've seen him play a few times in the past few years and he's impressed me. With Habib Who and an aging Luke Young we need another right back. Let him and Lichaj fight it out.

[ian c.]

I thought we were past borrowing players from our "rivals". I was wrong. We are a joke.

If Spurs were our rivals I would be delighted, unfortunately our rivals are, Wolves, Wigan, West Ham, Boggies, Noses and Fulham.

[Merv]

If this is with view to a permanent deal then it's an excellent move. I've seen him play a few times in the past few years and he's impressed me. With Habib Who and an aging Luke Young we need another right back. Let him and Lichaj fight it out.

Well said. Kyle Walker's not really going to make a substantial difference to us but we've had a weakness at RB for a couple of seasons so we need to look at that. I can't see Beye and Young at VP next season so Walker's got a chance of winning a permanent deal, I'd have thought. He's a good young player not getting a look in at Spurs... as well as short term, fire-fighting type signings it seems GH is looking at building a team longer term too.