Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[eastie]

Yes grayson has done very well at both Blackpool and Leeds and could be one for the future-will be interesting to see how he does with Leeds next season if they get promotion.

[KevinGage]

I know it's opening a can of worms, and as much as Moyes hasn't had as much money as some of his counterparts, he has been quite wasteful at times. There are few managers in the PL that are better at spotting a bargain, but a bit like Wenger, give him big money to spend on one or two players I'd be worried. He really hasn't signed a top forward in the time he's been at the club, and he's signed the likes of Beattie, Fellaini, Yakubu, Kroldrup, Johnson for big money. It will be very interesting if he does leave and go to a club that gives him a decent transfer budget to see what he does.

Yakubu and Saha have been pretty effective forwards for them at different times. The Yak got an injury 18 months ago and has never quite been the same. He's also a Nigerian 28 - which is probably more like 33- so that probably has a bearing.

Defence is decent, Jagialka, Distin, Baines, Heitinger. Any midfield containing Arteta, Fellaini, Rodwell and Cahill is going to be a threat. But they are without question light up front - even with Coopers Injury's no.1 choice up top.

A big percentage of any money they've spent has been generated by selling the likes of Rooney, Lescott and Johnson, but generally the powers that be have allowed one big purchase per summer - a piecemeal operation- and they've slowly built the squad up that way.  Recently however they haven't even been able to do that.  A few years ago it would probably have been them signing Darren Bent rather than us, for example.

[Toronto Villa]

I know it's opening a can of worms, and as much as Moyes hasn't had as much money as some of his counterparts, he has been quite wasteful at times. There are few managers in the PL that are better at spotting a bargain, but a bit like Wenger, give him big money to spend on one or two players I'd be worried. He really hasn't signed a top forward in the time he's been at the club, and he's signed the likes of Beattie, Fellaini, Yakubu, Kroldrup, Johnson for big money. It will be very interesting if he does leave and go to a club that gives him a decent transfer budget to see what he does.

Yakubu and Saha have been pretty effective forwards for them at different times. The Yak got an injury 18 months ago and has never quite been the same. He's also a Nigerian 28 - which is probably more like 33- so that probably has a bearing.

Defence is decent, Jagialka, Distin, Baines, Heitinger. Any midfield containing Arteta, Fellaini, Rodwell and Cahill is going to be a threat. But they are without question light up front - even with Coopers Injury's no.1 choice up top.

A big percentage of any money they've spent has been generated by selling the likes of Rooney, Lescott and Johnson, but generally the powers that be have allowed one big purchase per summer - a piecemeal operation- and they've slowly built the squad up that way.  Recently however they haven't even been able to do that.  A few years ago it would probably have been them signing Darren Bent rather than us, for example.

I don't disagree with that. But whether he has generated his own money through sales, or simply had money the board has made available to him, it hasn't been well spent on the big transfer deals in my opinion. I'm sure he's always been kept advised about the clubs financial situation because of relationship with Kenwright. Why then would he spend 15m or whatever on Fellaini, when he'd have been so much better finding 3 or 4 players for that same combined investment? Something he's excellent at.

[olaftab]

I know it's opening a can of worms, and as much as Moyes hasn't had as much money as some of his counterparts, he has been quite wasteful at times. There are few managers in the PL that are better at spotting a bargain, but a bit like Wenger, give him big money to spend on one or two players I'd be worried. He really hasn't signed a top forward in the time he's been at the club, and he's signed the likes of Beattie, Fellaini, Yakubu, Kroldrup, Johnson for big money. It will be very interesting if he does leave and go to a club that gives him a decent transfer budget to see what he does.

I can't believe you have gone and opened up this can of worms!

[cdbearsfan]

[Dan England]

Looking at the previously mentioned Obertan, after his performance today, he should be no where near any premiership or championship team. And certainly never considered in any way, shape or form a replacement for Young A.

[villa1]

Looking at the previously mentioned Obertan, after his performance today, he should be no where near any premiership or championship team. And certainly never considered in any way, shape or form a replacement for Young A.

He was poor, although Bebe was absolutely awful!

[WikiVilla]

Smalling + £8m and they can have ash in the summer

[eamonn]

Kroldrup was a midfielder, so is Fellaini. And the latter is a great player.
They made a profit on Johnson (Fulham stupidly paid £11m  after he had under-achieved at Goodison).
Your point about him signing underwhelming strikers remains however.

You didn't really just call Fellaini a "great" player did you?

Yep, great feet, strong in the air. I'd have him ahead of Petrov, NRC, possibly even Makoun and maybe Milner (if he was still here). Struggled a bit with injuries lately and he hasn't scored as many goals as he should this season but he's still only 23.

Each to their own I suppose. But I certainly wouldn't deem him "great", and above Milner (i.e PFA Young Player of the Year central midfield Milner???). You're having a laugh.

British players are always more likely to win those awards than a Johnny foreigner.

Milner had a great season last year but he's always been over-rated to me. Fantastic engine, ferocious shot, decent tackle and great urgency to him but technically someone like Fellaini is far superior. Quicker feet, more incisive passer, better in the air and better at getting goals from open play.

We'll obviously have to agree to disagree on this one.

[Dave]

Smalling + £8m and they can have ash in the summer

That would be a bit nuts. Clarke already looks a much better player.

[WikiVilla]

Clarke and Smalling at the back, that's the CBs sorted for the next decade

[oldtimernow]

Clarke and Smalling at the back, that's the CBs sorted for the next decade

Hopefully for Villa and not United

[Karl Bridges]

We've been linked to this guy today, along with Villareal

http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/02/20/basel-fight-aston-villa-and-villarreal-to-keep-hold-of-xherdan-shaqiri/37777/

[Mister E]

SrAlex and his red nose have to be mad if they think that Bebe and Obertan are the future for ManUre (... here's hoping!). They were shite last night.

[TheSandman]

Clarke and Smalling at the back, that's the CBs sorted for the next decade

Hopefully for Villa and not United

No hopefully for United as I don't rate Smalling and I haven't heard of this Clarke fellow.

We just need to find the perfect partner for Ciaran Clark.