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

[KevinGage]

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.

[peter w]

But that spell led us into a spiral downwards. We have not been able to put out a settled team out week in week out to try and get out of our slump.

[WikiVilla]

Is this the "transfer rumours" thread ?

[peter w]

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

[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.

[WikiVilla]

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

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

[mattjpa]

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

[KevinGage]

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.

And that's fine.

If in that one game we were below par. Ditto for the bulk of our games pre Christmas when we had Hogg and the likes in midfield. I'd argue that the best managers find a way to work around it (see Everton's run of form at the moment) but that's by the by.

There have been plenty of games in the rest of the season when we've had close to a full squad to choose from and results haven't hit a drastic upcurve.

[KevinGage]

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

Robbie Keane, Kallstrom, Saviola and Benni McCarthy are still forming the nucleus of the Villa side, with Chairman Cisneros still bankrolling the club in some alternate reality.

[Shrek]

What do people think of Danny Welbeck? 6-8 million I reckon.

He can play 442 or 433 wide left and has played with Bent.

[WikiVilla]

Are the majority of deals still done on Dougs yacht in Palma ?

[Mazrim]

What do people think of Danny Welbeck? 6-8 million I reckon.

He can play 442 or 433 wide left and has played with Bent.

I'd rather put that money towards a punt at Sturridge.

[KevinGage]

Isn't Elmander available on a free this summer?

Not exactly a player to build a side around, but would provide a bit of variation, particularly if Ivanhoe departs.

[villa1]

What do people think of Danny Welbeck? 6-8 million I reckon.

He can play 442 or 433 wide left and has played with Bent.

Good player. Not sure they'll sell though.

[Monty]

You bunch o' wankers. Brief enough? 

6 to many...

How's this for brief - DEBATE-INTERRUPTING BASTARDS.

And now for the not brief bit, which I promise is the last you'll hear from me on this debate. Firstly, we shouldn't play 'exactly' like Barca, we should merely take their style as a model, a style which incorporates elements such as high-pressing, a fluid possession based approach and pace in the counter-attack. There's no reason why we can't aim for such a style. I am, however, still yet to be convinced of the important of height in midfield, I think that's a red herring. We will need strength, certainly, because we don't have the luxury of midfielders like Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets (the later being tall, certainly, but not especially strong), which is why someone like Makoun is perfect for us: he is strong, despite what some on here think (took him a while to get up to the pace, but he is physically strong in the challenge) and a good ball player. Not the best in the world, but an absolutely capable all-rounder. As for height in midfield, you mentioned Essien, KG? Essien's 5'10''. Technically Chelsea's usual midfield is shorter than Man Utd's, but I don't think it's physically weaker (nor did Man Utd win that CL tie on height in midfield). I still don't see the point of midfield height.

Secondly (but actually the same point), was Man City away really a watershed moment? A game where we famously played a weakened side against a very very good team, especially defensively, and especially at their own ground? Do you really think the reason we didn't break them down when they were 2-0 up and utterly content to let us have the ball was because we didn't counter-attack enough? Or that it's somehow the fault of us passing the ball, as opposed to the fact that their side was better than ours, particularly in that match situation? I really don't think that's a fair watershed moment at all, especially to judge the effectiveness of an entire style of play. Just to note: I don't necessarily think we should be playing that style now, and I think GH very possibly made a mistake in trying to implement it too quickly when he didn't really have his own squad, players he knew would be able to play that style. In terms of the future, though, and how we could progress, I believe that to be the best way forward. Not to play exactly like Barcelona with Jonathan Hogg in the Xavi role, but to take on board the fact that what they do can work at all levels - for it to work, you don't have to have won all your games and win the treble, you merely have to do well. I think we can do that.