Jean Makoun SIGNED!

[damon loves JT]

All over the world, disgruntled players blame the fans for not liking them enough.

[Bad English]

You should know that the barman in the café where I usually have a shot or two of espresso before work says "He's 'alright', that Jean II Makoun is"

[jonzy85]

Firstly, why the "II" in Jean Makoun?

Secondly, while he does seem quite an exciting signing I do fear he could end up being anywhere on the spectrum between Djemba Djemba and Essien. Seems to have been very good at times in France and not so much other times. Maybe people are getting carried away because we are signing an overseas international for the first time in a while. Maybe I am just being too pessimistic.

Either way, if we get him by tomorrow, would it be the right thing to just throw him into the derby? I could see him taking the rest of this season to get to grips with the PL. From memory, Essien signed in January for Chelsea and didnt pull up any trees until the nest season.

[TimTheVillain]

Firstly, why the "II" in Jean Makoun?

Secondly, while he does seem quite an exciting signing I do fear he could end up being anywhere on the spectrum between Djemba Djemba and Essien. Seems to have been very good at times in France and not so much other times. Maybe people are getting carried away because we are signing an overseas international for the first time in a while. Maybe I am just being too pessimistic.

Either way, if we get him by tomorrow, would it be the right thing to just throw him into the derby? I could see him taking the rest of this season to get to grips with the PL. From memory, Essien signed in January for Chelsea and didnt pull up any trees until the nest season.

There is a lot of the unknown about him, and players costing above £5m will always be big news at Villa, but I tend to agree with the analogy here.

He may help turn our season around - let's hope so, but I am looking for some more inspirational signings, especially a striker as GH doesn't appear to get on with JC.

[DrGonzo]

Is the "II" similar to the European "the Second"?

Or is it more sci-fi than that and he is a second generation Makoun?

[sfx412]

Always worries me that if too much is spent on a player in January it takes until May for them to get up to speed, as they don't have a pre season to adjust.

[Dave]

Always worries me that if too much is spent on a player in January it takes until May for them to get up to speed, as they don't have a pre season to adjust.

It is always a worry, but there are always exceptions.

Arshavin was great for Arsenal when he first signed. Young and Carew looked very decent for us as soon as they started as well.

[Mazrim]

Is the "II" similar to the European "the Second"?

Or is it more sci-fi than that and he is a second generation Makoun?

His father was a big Boyz II Men fan and so that's why he has that middle name.

[Bad English]

His dad was called Jean Makoun.

[Concrete John]

Always worries me that if too much is spent on a player in January it takes until May for them to get up to speed, as they don't have a pre season to adjust.

It is always a worry, but there are always exceptions.

Arshavin was great for Arsenal when he first signed. Young and Carew looked very decent for us as soon as they started as well.

Although he scored on his debut (away at Newcastle from memory?) I though Ash was relatively poor in that first half a season and didn't really kick in until 07/08.  Carew I grant you did hit the ground running.

[Mazrim]

His dad was called Jean Makoun.

Spoilsport!

[Irish villain]

Young and Carew were brilliant January signings for villa. Hopefully we can get him in and straight into the team for the derby game...it'd give us a lift I reckon.

[pedro25]

Start next season with centre mid of Adam and Makoun with Delph, Bannan, Hogg, Herd and G Gardner in reserve would be excellent imo.  Lose Petrov, Reo Coker, Salifou, Pires and Osbourne on top of C Gardner and Sidwell in that area of the team, so a decent net saving on wages and transfer fees overall too.

[SteveD]

Let's hope he brings a lift; not wishing to piss on the frites, I just hope Houllier's not continuing his less than spectacular record of signing overpriced and less than effective France based players which he was known for at Liverpool. I'm more excited at the thought Charlie Adam might be heading this way.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Let's hope he's as good as former Cameroon star Djemba-Djemba