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

[oldtimernow]

Yep. Or lets just say bollocks to it and play Gary Gardner there.

Do you think that if we weren't in the current position that GG would be playing in the last few games to see what he could offer?

[TheSandman]

In other news, I think we should put a bid in for this guy. Making friends, as always.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1374335/Joey-Barton-brands-Gareth-Barry-teachers-pet.html

He's not wrong though.

[Concrete John]

In other news, I think we should put a bid in for this guy. Making friends, as always.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1374335/Joey-Barton-brands-Gareth-Barry-teachers-pet.html

He's not wrong though.

He makes some valid points about the England players, but when he reckons he should be forgiven 'as it was four years ago' and is missing his fellow thug Carroll, you can't help but feel he's not learnt a thing and is still an odious individual!

[Mazrim]

I think his big brother must have given you one of 'those' stares to be pushing his case so hard, Maz!

I'm a bit more fearsome than that little berk so no worries!

No, seriously, it's because he's ace.

[Merv]

Although I noticed the interview was with So Foot, the same French mag that ran the piece with Stephen Ireland a few weeks back. They either exaggerate a lot of comment/quote off the record stuff or they know exactly which players to interview to guarantee controversial headlines!

[Mazrim]

Yep. Or lets just say bollocks to it and play Gary Gardner there.

Do you think that if we weren't in the current position that GG would be playing in the last few games to see what he could offer?

Yes. It's a strong possibilty.

[JJ-AV]

With whatever cash we get for Young,i'd like to see us look for a proper no.10 style player to play off Bent,as i think were ok on the wings,as well as going for an up and coming player like Sinclair at Swansea who wouldn't cost that much.

We've tried that with Young and it's left us too exposed drfensively.  I think an advanced midfielder, as opposed to a forward dropping deep, gives a greater balance between attack and defence.

That having been said, a defensive rebuild and a quality holding player may solve the problem.

See, I'm very much of the opposite opinion. That with the work rate of Albrighton and a new holding player alongside Makoun and Downing we could very much accomodate a classic #10 to tuck in behind Bent. For me a VDV type is exactly the type we need.

Who though? I've no ideas. N'Zogbia and Michel Bastos are both similar sorts of players to Ashley I reckon we could get, but I don't think either are natural off the front players.

However I think your scenario is probably the most likely, John. Considering the pursuit of Adam. I think Houllier wanted a midfield five from right to left of: Ashley, Makoun, NRC, Adam, Downing with NRC doing the dirty work and Ashley having license to drift, and Walker's energy down the right overlapping Ashley drifting infield.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Not sure if he is ready this season, but Gary Gardner is not far away from maybe being the "player" we are looking for. 6ft 1 box to box, two good feet and with an eye for goal ........

[oldtimernow]

Not sure if he is ready this season, but Gary Gardner is not far away from maybe being the "player" we are looking for. 6ft 1 box to box, two good feet and with an eye for goal ........

Move over Steevie G

[The Left Side]

Not sure if he is ready this season, but Gary Gardner is not far away from maybe being the "player" we are looking for. 6ft 1 box to box, two good feet and with an eye for goal ........

We certainly need him to be the next big thing.

[Clampy]

Although I noticed the interview was with So Foot, the same French mag that ran the piece with Stephen Ireland a few weeks back. They either exaggerate a lot of comment/quote off the record stuff or they know exactly which players to interview to guarantee controversial headlines!

You'd have thought after the Ireland interview, he would'nt have spoken to them at all. He should stick to playing football, which he's very good at. He looked superb against Wolves last week.

[DrGonzo]

  How on Earth are you so in touch with the manager's discussions with  his players? Are you involved in the Villa set up at an executive level?  Just how the holy fuck do you know that Houllier has told Dunne and Collins, the heart of one of the best defences in the Prem last season, that they had no future at the Villa?  Or is this just anti-Houllier bile being self righteously spouted??  I know where my money lies.

I simply base the comparison on what both have said publicly about their respective players. MON talked up the likes of McCann, Samuel and even Angel - but that didn't stop him moving them on when the time came. Maybe he said one thing in the press and another to them, I don't know. That would be speculation. It can't have hurt their morale for the manager to praise them in public though, to suggest that they had longterm futures at the club. And judging by their form in that first half of the campaign, it looks like they bought into it too.

In contrast, GH has offered little> no public encouragement to struggling players this year. In fact he seems to prefer to put the boot in. Each to his own, but our precarious league position seems to underline the point that his method isn't working.

Oh, and lay off the acid Dr Gonzo. It's clearly rotting your brain and ability to reason.

I don't remember Angel, Samuel and McCann starting fights and arguing with the coaches.  Things which I believe should be dealt with extremely strongly, and if the players in question don't take the lesson on board they should be moved on.

Oh, and lay off the patronising attitude you prick it's clearly making you look like an arsehole.

[WikiVilla]

Not sure if he is ready this season, but Gary Gardner is not far away from maybe being the "player" we are looking for. 6ft 1 box to box, two good feet and with an eye for goal ........

Have we tied him down to a long term contract does anyone know ?

[eastie]

Not sure if he is ready this season, but Gary Gardner is not far away from maybe being the "player" we are looking for. 6ft 1 box to box, two good feet and with an eye for goal ........

Have we tied him down to a long term contract does anyone know ?

i think he signed a new long term deal recently wiki! one to watch next season i feel.

[TheSandman]

What position does young Daniel Johnson play? I have heard he too is a future star but haven't seen that much of him.