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

[JJ-AV]

Walker, Samba, N'Zogbia should definitely be targets.

N'Zogbia is the best dribbler in the country and he scores from open play. Comfortable off the front too.

[Greg N'Ash]

Personally i hope we're be shopping mainly abroad. i.e. getting the N'Zogbia's before they come with the 10m price tag and the 50k a week.

[Dante Lavelli]

Walker, Samba, N'Zogbia should definitely be targets.

N'Zogbia is the best dribbler in the country and he scores from open play. Comfortable off the front too.

Samba is 28 on his next birthday, which whilst not old, suggests we'll be paying top dollar for him.  I'd prefer and younger player or someone at the end of their contract.  Put another way, I want us to sign players whose value is likely to increase.  with samba, even if he is a success, his value is not likely to increase much.  Continuing the cycle of spending more than we can afford.

[brontebilly]

Benito Carbone - I'd forgotten about him.

Seriously though, when was the last time we signed one of those sort of little magicians - the sort that can frustrate the hell out of us, but also do something completely outrageous that changes the game?  Carbone was one (remember the freekick he scored with the outside of his right boot from about 30 yards out?), Merson was another, Yorke too.  There haven't been many more though and we haven't had one for about 10 years.  It would be quite exciting to have another!

Sounds like Ashley to me.

It's been a hell of a long time since Ash did something outrageous that changed a game.

super skill that made the goal for Gabby v West Ham. Freekick v Wigan. 4 points that saved Villa imo.

[ozzjim]

I think Bents goals have saved Villa more than anything, but the two examples above are valid. Trouble is, they are more isolated instances than they once were. He is not the same direct player he was a couple of years back though.

[LeeB]

Benito Carbone - I'd forgotten about him.

Seriously though, when was the last time we signed one of those sort of little magicians - the sort that can frustrate the hell out of us, but also do something completely outrageous that changes the game?  Carbone was one (remember the freekick he scored with the outside of his right boot from about 30 yards out?), Merson was another, Yorke too.  There haven't been many more though and we haven't had one for about 10 years.  It would be quite exciting to have another!

Sounds like Ashley to me.

It's been a hell of a long time since Ash did something outrageous that changed a game.

That rinsing of the full back at West Ham aside? Or the free kick against Wigan? Or the inch perfect through ball yesterday?

edit: just read brontebillys' post above.

[Mazrim]

Yeah, you're having a nightmare there Ad@m.

I think a lot of folks will be shocked at how much we'll miss Young if he goes.
I do believe we'd replace him with a good player and I really rate Albrighton highly, but Ash is a top player and most teams would love him. Including better teams than ourselves

[*shellac*]

Samba, Hoillet, Robinson - Blackburn

Martin Olsson & Phil Jones?

[JUAN PABLO]

The last time Ash Young did something 'outrageous'    was his goal against Everton.

[PaulTheVillan]

NZogbia has to be the replacement for Young.

[JUAN PABLO]

I posted this on Friday

 I think N'zogbia would be a good player for us , he has 7 goals and 5 assists compared to Youngs 7 goals and 9 assists , but I dont think N'zogbia takes every free kick like Young does .. I dont know how many of Youngs goals are pens..   

so the goals and assists have changed again ...        with Nzogbia's 2 goals and 1 assist for Young..

[Mazrim]

I know N'Zogbia is the right type of player we need, I'm just not sure of his character but that's just a hunch and nothing really behind it. I'd be happy if we got him.

[JJ-AV]

Walker, Samba, N'Zogbia should definitely be targets.

N'Zogbia is the best dribbler in the country and he scores from open play. Comfortable off the front too.

Samba is 28 on his next birthday, which whilst not old, suggests we'll be paying top dollar for him.  I'd prefer and younger player or someone at the end of their contract.  Put another way, I want us to sign players whose value is likely to increase.  with samba, even if he is a success, his value is not likely to increase much.  Continuing the cycle of spending more than we can afford.

Agree with that, but we do need some experience back there, we can't afford another season of transition and if Clark is going to be #1 we need a centre banck who knows the league. I wouldn't pay massive amounts, but circa £8m he'd be worth it, I reckon.

They only paid 250k for him, IIRC.

[JJ-AV]

We're not gonna replace Ashley's positional play (outwide), work rate, desire and leadership.

However N'Zogbia is a better dribbler, scores far more from open play, has a better shot and is capable off the front.

[LeeB]

I know N'Zogbia is the right type of player we need, I'm just not sure of his character but that's just a hunch and nothing really behind it. I'd be happy if we got him.

To be fair, he's got his head down at Wigan, and a lot of players might have slacked after having a move fall through last summer but he's gone on and probably had his best season.

Mind you he's probably spending every waking hour thanking Christ he didn't end up at that cesspit.