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

[KevinGage]

This will be my last words on the subject too (for a bit, at least in the transfer thread).

I don't see anything wrong at all in attempting to provide variation on what had gone before under MON, veering away from his -at times- agricultural approach. I can't quite recall who it was but one of the coaches of the sides we faced in the UEFA in 08/9 said it wouldn't be hard to work out a plan to counter us, as our only tactic was get the ball to Ashley Young and hope he does something.

A bit naughty, but he had a point (though we weren't always quite that basic). I mentioned the Man Citeh match earlier and I think it's a perfectly valid illustration of what we've been about for large chunks of this season. There have been plenty of other examples too, but occasionally one stays with you and that passage of play crystallised what we've been about for too much of this year.  In the same vein though, there was a specific moment under MON (West Ham away in 09/10) when we'd hammered the ball long from a goalkick in the general direction of Ashley Young's side of the pitch for about the umpteenth time, hoping something would break to him where I stood there and thought 'no more of this.' 

So I'm not going to by a hypocrite and say it was always high octane thrills on his watch, not by any stretch.

I think we're in broad agreement that GH has tried to change things too soon, we just differ on what we think is realistically achievable.

I happen to think that we can  expect to see a better overall style of play (either under this manager or the next) but that primarily it should be within the framework of us remaining as a strong counter attacking side in a physical league (this doesn't mean always playing on the counter -as an example-  a big part of Tottenham's play is diagonal balls to Crouch, yet they don't always attack via that method).

 You think a far more expansive game is not just desirable but entirely achievable. Vive la différence.

[Dave]

You've had Kim Kallstrom what else do you want?

Weren't we linked with him in the 90's ?

In 1999 he would have been 17 years old.

So I'd be surprised if we were.

[SheffieldVillain]

From the Daily Mirror

Villa and Sunderland chase Kirkland on free transfer

Chris Kirkland is heading for the exit at Wigan on a free transfer – with Aston Villa and Sunderland set for a scrap to sign him.
 
England international goalkeeper Kirkland has been told by Roberto Martinez that he can leave the DW Stadium for nothing at the end of this season.
 
Kirkland has a year left on his contract but will be allowed to quit after being shunted down to the Latics’ No. 3 behind Ali Al-Habsi and Mike Pollitt.
 
And Villa and the Black Cats are both preparing for a battle to snap up the 29-year-old in the summer.
 
Villa boss Gerard Houllier signed Kirkland for £6million during his spell at Liverpool, while his assistant Gary McAllister is also a huge admirer.
 
But Steve Bruce will also be in the race as he wants to provide Scotland star Craig Gordon with more competition at the Stadium of Light.
 
Kirkland has been fit for most of the season but Martinez and chairman Dave Whelan want his £30,000 wages off the books.

[willywombat]

Never been a fan of Kirkland to be honest, could only be as back up to Friedel surely?

[cheltenhamlion]

If it was Kirkland as back up to Given I could live with it.

[Karl Bridges]

From The Express

ASTON VILLA are the latest English Premier League club to declare an interest in player of the year nominee Emilio Izaguirre.

Express Sport has learned that Villa manager Gerard Houllier recently had the Celtic full-back watched and followed that up by checking him out with some influential contacts north of the border.

Houllier is preparing a clearout at Villa Park this summer and is willing to pay around £8million to land the Honduras international, who was shortlisted for PFA Scotland’s Player of the Year award yesterday.

Izaguirre has had a dream first season in the SPL and his swashbuckling displays have already brought him to the attention of some of England’s biggest clubs including Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United.

Houllier knows he faces a fight to land the 24-year-old but is prepared to pull out all the stops to fill his problem left-back position.

The Frenchman is also aware that Celtic may be forced to sell if they fail to win the title and gain entry into the Champions League qualifiers.

Houllier has kept a close eye on Scottish football since he returned to management in England, with Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor another name on his radar.

Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/240839/Aston-Villa-preparing-Izaguirre-raid-Aston-Villa-preparing-Izaguirre-raid-#ixzz1JZjLbPvW

[Concrete John]

This 'amazing list of casualties' was before the turn of the year, was it not?

Since then we've had a few out, here and there. Which you'd expect at any time. But not to the levels we did in Nov/Dec.

Certainly not enough to justify still being in the midst of a relegation scrap halfway through April.

Mostly true except for the list of injured defenders for the wolves game:

Walker, Young, Clark, Baker as the starting 4 and not a single defender on the bench so Delph at left back after half hour.  Imagine how that would've been reported if it was arsenal, spurs or man utd, then see if you can recall any mention of it in the press.  That's what Peter is referring to, a lot of people who are slating houllier haven't even considered this.

Firstly, it was Cuellar that played in the Wolves game and not Clark.  And that meant we still had half a good back 4 out in him and Walker.

But the thing that gets m most about that game was why not use Warnock and/or Beye.  I know Martin left some players on the sidelines, but if he needed them he'd play them.  He wasn't afraid to still use NRC after their crap, but Gezza will play an inexperienced midfielder just coming back from injury over Warnock.

Injuries are one thing, how you handle them is something different.

[Concrete John]

From The Express

ASTON VILLA are the latest English Premier League club to declare an interest in player of the year nominee Emilio Izaguirre.

Express Sport has learned that Villa manager Gerard Houllier recently had the Celtic full-back watched and followed that up by checking him out with some influential contacts north of the border.

Houllier is preparing a clearout at Villa Park this summer and is willing to pay around £8million to land the Honduras international, who was shortlisted for PFA Scotland’s Player of the Year award yesterday.

Izaguirre has had a dream first season in the SPL and his swashbuckling displays have already brought him to the attention of some of England’s biggest clubs including Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United.

Houllier knows he faces a fight to land the 24-year-old but is prepared to pull out all the stops to fill his problem left-back position.

The Frenchman is also aware that Celtic may be forced to sell if they fail to win the title and gain entry into the Champions League qualifiers.

Houllier has kept a close eye on Scottish football since he returned to management in England, with Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor another name on his radar.

Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/240839/Aston-Villa-preparing-Izaguirre-raid-Aston-Villa-preparing-Izaguirre-raid-#ixzz1JZjLbPvW

Oh the irony if Gezza's comprehensive network and knowledge of world football lead us to sign a player from Celtic!!

[JUAN PABLO]

every summer since 1992 to my recollection. im just waiting for a benni mcarthy rumour now!...

si

every summer since 1992 to my recollection. im just waiting for a benni mcarthy rumour now!...

               since he was 8   ;-)

[rutski]

This 'amazing list of casualties' was before the turn of the year, was it not?

Since then we've had a few out, here and there. Which you'd expect at any time. But not to the levels we did in Nov/Dec.

Certainly not enough to justify still being in the midst of a relegation scrap halfway through April.

Mostly true except for the list of injured defenders for the wolves game:

Walker, Young, Clark, Baker as the starting 4 and not a single defender on the bench so Delph at left back after half hour.  Imagine how that would've been reported if it was arsenal, spurs or man utd, then see if you can recall any mention of it in the press.  That's what Peter is referring to, a lot of people who are slating houllier haven't even considered this.

Firstly, it was Cuellar that played in the Wolves game and not Clark.  And that meant we still had half a good back 4 out in him and Walker.

But the thing that gets m most about that game was why not use Warnock and/or Beye.  I know Martin left some players on the sidelines, but if he needed them he'd play them.  He wasn't afraid to still use NRC after their crap, but Gezza will play an inexperienced midfielder just coming back from injury over Warnock.

Injuries are one thing, how you handle them is something different.

the starting back four against the dogheads was baker, herd, cuellar and walker.  Very inexperienced

[Monty]

I think we're in broad agreement that GH has tried to change things too soon, we just differ on what we think is realistically achievable.

I happen to think that we can  expect to see a better overall style of play (either under this manager or the next) but that primarily it should be within the framework of us remaining as a strong counter attacking side in a physical league (this doesn't mean always playing on the counter -as an example-  a big part of Tottenham's play is diagonal balls to Crouch, yet they don't always attack via that method).

 You think a far more expansive game is not just desirable but entirely achievable. Vive la différence.

D'accord, essentially. Time will tell which, if either, is within our reach.

[paul_e]

This 'amazing list of casualties' was before the turn of the year, was it not?

Since then we've had a few out, here and there. Which you'd expect at any time. But not to the levels we did in Nov/Dec.

Certainly not enough to justify still being in the midst of a relegation scrap halfway through April.

Mostly true except for the list of injured defenders for the wolves game:

Walker, Young, Clark, Baker as the starting 4 and not a single defender on the bench so Delph at left back after half hour.  Imagine how that would've been reported if it was arsenal, spurs or man utd, then see if you can recall any mention of it in the press.  That's what Peter is referring to, a lot of people who are slating houllier haven't even considered this.

Firstly, it was Cuellar that played in the Wolves game and not Clark.  And that meant we still had half a good back 4 out in him and Walker.

But the thing that gets m most about that game was why not use Warnock and/or Beye.  I know Martin left some players on the sidelines, but if he needed them he'd play them.  He wasn't afraid to still use NRC after their crap, but Gezza will play an inexperienced midfielder just coming back from injury over Warnock.

Injuries are one thing, how you handle them is something different.

the starting back four against the dogheads was baker, herd, cuellar and walker.  Very inexperienced

Ok, memory is going, I knew it was inexperienced though and had no cover on the bench.

As for Warnock and Beye would they have performed better than the people came in for?  Look at the record of the reserves after those 2 started playing compared to the rest of the season.  Neither of them should be anywhere near the first team, their attitudes this season have been like a cancer to the club, I say fair play to Houllier for sticking to his principals and leaving them well out in the cold, even if it does, on paper, weaken us I don't think it does on the pitch.

[Concrete John]

As for Warnock and Beye would they have performed better than the people came in for?  Look at the record of the reserves after those 2 started playing compared to the rest of the season.  Neither of them should be anywhere near the first team, their attitudes this season have been like a cancer to the club, I say fair play to Houllier for sticking to his principals and leaving them well out in the cold, even if it does, on paper, weaken us I don't think it does on the pitch.

My argument would be that the situation could have been handled better so that the attitudes were kept in check and they would have been willing and able if called upon.  Yes, in an ideal world you'd tell 'em to fuck off and never set foot in the club again, but modern football is anything but an ideal world.

[Merv]

Let's be fair - totally ignoring Habib Beye is not something that's exclusive to Gerard Houllier. The man who signed him could barely bring himself to play him.

O'Neill wasn't that different to Houllier in that, once he'd made his mind up about a player, he barely selected him again. He'd have played almost anyone else at LB apart from Nicky Shorey.

What I'll say is that I can't remember a worse injury situation at Villa in my time supporting them. It peaked in Oct-Dec with 10-11 players out but even since then we've had 3-4 CBs out at any one time. I agree with those who pointed out that, if the big four, Spurs, Liverpool had had the same levels of absentees we'd have seen big headlines.

If we can keep a consistent team together for the last six games I think we'll see an improvement; we already have in the last two games.

[ROBBO]

Merv this has been the biggest disappointment to me, how some supporters just don't seem to understand how weakened we were for much of the season. Forget the backroom squabbles and other sideshows this has been the fundamental reason for our poor season.