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

[sonlyme]

Fantasy manager time is it ...?

Given the budget - I'd look for proven prem talent and mix that up with promise and potential.  Plus I think our kids on loan will come into their own next season.

New goalie - Tim Howard or Ben Foster
Defence -  Leighton Baines and Robert Huth - both excellent defenders - both create and score goals too.
Midfield -  Let's accept Mr A Young is off - let's thank him, take the silly money, and welcome Mr Albrighton to his place,  then let's get a real central midfielder who can tackle and see the pass - a proper playmaker - we've looked hollow in the centre for too long.  Don't know if Charlie is the one - Barton maybe - but we need some quality in the middle.  We is all wings and thighs -  man needs breast meat occasionally.

Not glamorous picks but Everton are on their arse - as are the Blouse - without Foster they'd be dead.  While we've had a shit one this time - I don't think it's that far off.  As long as we don't end up with a load of euro nonces I'll be happy.

[Moorski]

Small Heath will not sell us Foster or Dann, unlike us they will not sell to their main local rivals.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I don't want anyone from Small Heath anyway, Its bad enough we sell them our players! Look who scored the winner yesterday

[eastie]

There won't be silly money for ash as he's onto the last year of his contract- £12m to £15m  max!

[ozzjim]

Think we will squeeze 15 for Ash.

Dunne will go, as I reckon will Freidel.

I can see us going for Given in goal - proven and a good keeper. Has his issues, but all keepers do.

A new left back, and right back will be on the list Walker is great but will cost too much, and I think Hutton might be a goer for about a quarter of the price, and although not as good going forward is better at the back.

Top central midfielder is a must though - a true destroyer that can pass too. Like a fit Hargreaves.

[VillaZogmariner]

Small Heath will not sell us Foster or Dann, unlike us they will not sell to their main local rivals.

Yes they would. Money talks.

[WikiVilla]

Foster made some class saves again yesterday, he'll keep SHA up sadly (along with ex Villa players odd goals)

[Steve67]

I think our defence needs to be rebuilt.  All positions expect for maybe Clark at centre back. Friedel has been a great servant but is finished.  Collins is a pony, got turned far too easily yesterday by Osman for his goal. Another central midfielder is a must, a goalscorer would be great, a David Platt type maybe, will probably be very expensive.

I think Given, Foster would be great.  I hate Joey Barton but think he'd add something to Villa with steel and creativity (and malevolance, unfortunately). I guess there'll be a clamour for Charles Nzogbia's signature if Wigan go down.

Ashley Young, Habib Beye, Emile Heskey, James Collins, Carlos Cuellar will all be sold in the summer.  Shame about Cuellar but Houllier just doesn't seem to rate him as highly as Collins.

[Steve67]

Dear Santa, this summer may I please have Arteta from Everton.

[VillaZogmariner]

Dear Santa, this summer may I please have Arteta from Everton.

As good as he is he is too injury prone for my liking.

[sonlyme]

Gentlemen - those who say Small Heath will not sell to Villa are grasping the wrong end of the stick. 

I don't think the wholesome Mr Kar Sin Yeung gives a toss who he is selling to.   The key fact is that SMA and Everton are deep in the 'mire'.   They have to sell - probably in the same way we will have to sell Ashley to generate the wage space.   My point is that both of these clubs - while a nasty shade of blue - have some excellent players who would make us stronger.

If we look at the possible clear out at VP we have

Brad F
Richard D
James C
Habib B
Luke Y
Moustapha S
Stan P
Nigel R.C.
John C
Emile H

That is an awful lot of wage space as MON put them all on top dollar.  If you average them out at £40k a week - this list alone frees up £21 million a year in wages.

The one thing I didn't like about MON's transfer policy was the idea of having a big squad of 'competent' premiership players.  I would rather have a smaller group of world class players - say 11?  And another group of promising youngsters to learn and fill in as necessary.   Never saw the point in replacing mediocrity with mediocrity myself.  And I will never understand the likes of Habib getting £50k a week.  Let's get five or six from the top drawer in - and trust our kids to mature.

Do like the look of young Sturridge - how did our youth system miss him?  He's a fan to boot.


And whatever you say about Peter Pannu - the boy knows his grub.

[CJ]

If we look at the possible clear out at VP we have

Brad F
Richard D
James C
Habib B
Luke Y
Moustapha S
Stan P
Nigel R.C.
John C
Emile H

That is an awful lot of wage space as MON put them all on top dollar.  If you average them out at £40k a week - this list alone frees up £21 million a year in wages.

Not sure that all on that list will go (I could maybe see Collins and Heskey staying) but there are some others who should be added to it - Warnock, Osbourne, Ireland and Ash Young - which would free up even more on wages

[Phil from the upper holte]

Please not one more season of Heskey, he really has to go he earns far too much and his games are limited much like him

[wif]

And whatever you say about Peter Pannu - the boy knows his grub.

Perhaps we can sell Dunne to Masterchef.

[JJ-AV]

Heskey won't go, no one will take his wages on and tbh I wouldn't let him go, he'll see out the final year IMO.

Besides, we can't change everyone.