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

[Chris Smith]

Let's be clear, Rob Green is fucking useless.

Let's be clear, you're wrong.

Unless "fucking useless" now means "a decent enough keeper but not top class" which is entirely possible the way you kids mangle the language these days.

[Michel Sibble]

Green is a good shout for us, as he's still young-ish and not many teams will be after him, but he is desperately short of confidence. I fear a clanger at VP would have fans giving him heaps of shit, which is the last thing he needs.

If he gets support from his coaches and we create a "Villa vs rest of the world" mentality, he could be a steal for us.

It's all in how we handle him.

[PaulMc]

He ain't decent enough though. Not for where we want to be anyway, below average premiership keeper in my opinion.

[PaulMc]

He ain't decent enough though. Not for where we want to be anyway, below average premiership keeper in my opinion.

I'd much rather Given.

[citizenDJ]

I don't necessarily think we should sign him, but Rob Green is pretty solid 'keeper, in much the same way as...well, as most 'keepers are. He makes plenty of good saves, and makes the occasional cock-up, just like most of them. The really top ones are those who can keep their concentration through a quiet match, who command their defense with authority and give a sense of reassurance to their defenders, such as Reina, Van der Saar. If they are also handy with their distribution, then you're talking genuinely world class.

Personally, I'd rather we signed Robinson or, perhaps, Jaaskeleinen.

[Shrek]

I'm sick of hearing that Westwood is a brilliant keeper when he's never played above Championship level. If that's the limit of our ambitions for next season then heaven help us. I would hope that we can do better than Green too but he's far better than many are giving him credit for.

We need a keeper proven at a high level. Most half decent keepers will look good in a shit side because they have plenty of opportunity to impress but it's the ability to stay alert when you haven't been involved for a while that characterises the best.

Come on think about what your saying.

We have had 4 years of buying 'proven' premiership players, which resulted in an average overpaid squad.

Westwood is a quality keeper that has lots of first team experience and WILL be playing in the Premier League next season hopefully with us. I'd take him over Green who has proven he is shit.

[Chris Smith]

  We have had 4 years of buying 'proven' premiership players, which resulted in an average overpaid squad.

It resulted in a squad that finished 6th last season (again), reached a cup final and a semi. That's well above average and you know it.

Westwood might well turn out to be a good keeper in time but having him as first choice when he has no experience at this level is asking for Richard Wright shaped trouble.

We should be looking for proven top level experience (premiership players are your words) not a novice.

[Toronto Villa]

I'm mostly with Chris on this one. I think a Westwood type needs to come in as our up and coming option. We need a keeper in his early to mid thirties with top level experience, be it in the UK or a solid European league. I'm not convinced by Green, but he's not shit.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Well we probably need 2, so Westwood and an experienced keeper.

Why not Brad for another season with Westwood as understudy?

[Shrek]

  We have had 4 years of buying 'proven' premiership players, which resulted in an average overpaid squad.

It resulted in a squad that finished 6th last season (again), reached a cup final and a semi. That's well above average and you know it.

Westwood might well turn out to be a good keeper in time but having him as first choice when he has no experience at this level is asking for Richard Wright shaped trouble.

We should be looking for proven top level experience (premiership players are your words) not a novice.

Your wrong, it resulted in a first 11 finishing 6th after being 3rd 10 points clear, it resulted in us losing a cup final with a half fit left back and a centre half at RB.

It resulted in John Terry publically telling us our flaws and doing the same thing a few weeks later in the FA cup Semi Final.

It all depends which way you look at it, I look at the fact we had a good 11 with a very average overpaid squad there after.

I have watched Westwood and trust me he is way better than the likes of Green.
We cannot just spend willy nilly, so when a good opportunity arise's we should take it.

Westwood being free in the summer is a great opportunity.

Look at Walker, quality in the championship and is doing great for us and a goalkeeper can make the step up alot easier than an outfield player.

[Chris Smith]

Well we probably need 2, so Westwood and an experienced keeper.

Why not Brad for another season with Westwood as understudy?

I'd be happy with that but I was coming from the point of view that Brad would be off in the summer.

[Mister E]

If you're talking keepers, I'd need to be reassured that the keeper-coach at VP is top-notch: with the way that BF fails to command his 6-yd box, I'm beginning to question how well the keepers are being coached.

[Chris Smith]

and a goalkeeper can make the step up alot easier than an outfield player.

How do you work that one out? I don't recall many keepers coming from that level straight into a team with top 6 aspirations and performing immediately.

I reckon Houllier is far to shrewd to take such a reckless risk.

[Shrek]

and a goalkeeper can make the step up alot easier than an outfield player.

How do you work that one out? I don't recall many keepers coming from that level straight into a team with top 6 aspirations and performing immediately.

I reckon Houllier is far to shrewd to take such a reckless risk.

I'm assuming it's easier, do you not think it would be easier for a keeper with lots of experience in the championship who will be coming into his prime in the next few years to make the step up?

[KevinGage]

Westwood would probably be a gamble and might turn out to be suspect.

Green is suspect.

Playing in the top flight for x amount of years is one barometer. But if there was an up and coming player in the Championship who'd banged in 40 goals and was desperate to move to VP, no one would seriously say lets opt for Harewood instead - as he has more Prem experience.