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

[Toronto Villa]

I think the Downing saga will be like the Barry/Liverpool saga.

He'll only go if he submits an official request & they match our valuation.

See I don't think it will Paul. I think club will put a firm deadline in place for this to happen. The Barry thing ran and ran and it really affected us for that summer. I get the impression they've told Liverpool the value, and told Downing you've got until X date to figure it out. Go and speak to Liverpool if you have to which is why I think the fat fuck Quinn might have this one right. First time for everything I suppse. Downing has clearly told the club he's off, to which the club will have said - hand in a transfer request, this is the fee, this is the timeline. Otherwise you're staying put because his contract gives us the upper hand, a bit like the Fabregas thing with Arsenal last summer.

[eastie]

Not interested in what Liverpool do and they will be nowhere near the top 4 in any case , more fool them for spending £55m on henderson and Carroll who have potential but are from the real deal yet at the highest level-you can always count on the scousers for a laugh.

Just another half arsed club who used to be famous!

[Maradona10]

Redman, still convinced your club does things the right way? Thought tapping up was from the previous regime and manager. Downing will not be sold on the cheap as Barry wasn't, don't your club ever learn.

[cdbearsfan]

We tapped McLeish up. Probably.

[Maradona10]

This is in response to Redman, who said Liverpool do business the right way, the whole Barry saga was down to the old regime and Rafa, well those have gone but they still be up to their same tricks, paying more for player who aren't fit to tie the shoelaces of Downing but then whinge at the amount we're asking for? Didn't your ITK say Young was on his way to Liverpool?

[Dante Lavelli]

Nothing personal Redman, you've generally added some quality posts to this site however with Downing's seeming departure and the possibly underhand way Liverpool have tapped him up you're likely to get some abuse. Personally I hope you continue to post in the future... Take it like a man bitch!

Moving on, why are people condoning buying both Nzogbia and Jarvis. I know Nzogbia can play on the right but aren't they both primarily left wingers? Should we look at a Sissoko type and improve another area of the squad with our cash?

[eastie]

We need to see how mcleish wants to play- id be very surprised if he played 2 wide men and think nzogbia or Jarvis would do but no need for both.

[Lambert and Payne]

If you won't go lower than £20m for Stew, you'll get to keep him.

Good you can fuck off then! Downings twice the player of Henderson and your offering nearly half the price? Fucking clueless wankers
I'd rather he went to a team who are going to win trophies thankyou, not a bunch of has been wankers who think the world is against them

[Redman]

I dont care what you're certain of. If you think other deals dont set precedent or have no bearing on others, you're wrong.
You're also wrong about what Downing will go for IF we decide to sell him.

Of course they have a bearing but not when you remove all context or pull them from the nearest tabloid.

If you won't go lower than £20m for Stew, you'll get to keep him.

Fine. We'll keep him then.
Do you honestly think we're desperate to sell to you or something? Get lost.

And please, stop talking out of your arse. I havent mentioned any tabloids and what context have I removed? You said "it won't have anything to do with the Young and Henderson fees" and you're wrong. Now you're saying they will have a bearing? Make your mind up.
When we started splashing cash on Young, Milner, Davies etc... we got stung for everybody afterwards. By spending so much on Henderson (and Carroll etc) you have set your stall out and you will be quoted prices based on that and what is acceptable to us and what we value our own players at.

So I say again, if you think the Henderson and Young deals have nothing to do with any potential deal for Downing, think again.

Like I said, the Henderson and Young deals may well have a bearing but if you think it'll be based on "Henderson cost £16m and Downing is a better player" or "Young went for £20m (or whatever reported fee you choose to believe) with only a year on his contract, then you're the one who's wrong, I'm afraid.

If you want to keep it in context, offset Henderson's fee against his age, his potential (be objective) and his resale value.

And factor Young's reputation plus his outstanding assist record over the past four years into the actual fee.

Then when you consider how much you paid for Downing and if he does end up handing in a transfer request, suddenly £20m doesn't look like such a bad deal.

[Redman]

Redman, still convinced your club does things the right way? Thought tapping up was from the previous regime and manager. Downing will not be sold on the cheap as Barry wasn't, don't your club ever learn.

No offence mate but you might be a bit paranoid.

Once you accept that players, agents and clubs are all at it because it's impossible to enforce, it'll become clear.

The Barry approach was underhand and aggressive. I don't see how this compares.

[Merv]

£20m isn't a bad deal. I'm sure many a Villa fan - me included - would be happy with £20m for a player of Downing's ability.

The context for me, here and now, is the current market for English players sold between PL clubs. Henderson and Young are comparable because they've both moved since the end of the season; however you wish to look at it, other clubs will look at what's been paid for these players and set their own price accordingly. I can't see Downing going much cheaper than £20m, and neither should he. He's just had arguably his most effective season and is very much back in the England fold.

PS I agree on 'tapping up', and the various form that takes. No club can take the moral high ground over another anymore, in my opinion.

[ozzjim]

Redman, still convinced your club does things the right way? Thought tapping up was from the previous regime and manager. Downing will not be sold on the cheap as Barry wasn't, don't your club ever learn.

No offence mate but you might be a bit paranoid.

Once you accept that players, agents and clubs are all at it because it's impossible to enforce, it'll become clear.

The Barry approach was underhand and aggressive. I don't see how this compares.

I tried hard not to bite, but I will. This is different I agree. But only in the less blatant, much MORE underhand way. A Liverpool fan on a Villa site calling one of our players Stew as if he is already yours is a bit galling I have to say. If you cannot see you have been underhand tapping a player that 2 weeks before the close of the season was talking about signing a new deal, then you are either blind or so far up your own backside that all you see is red.

[Sam Smith]

Why are you on here anyway?

[eastie]

Can we please look ahead to our new signings as I'm getting bored reading about Liverpool on a villa website.

[BILL DE VALL]

I don't know why we are getting all het up about Downing
He is a good player yes-great crosser -decent engine-england international-probably a decent lad(i've not heard owt to the contrary)

but he's a bit one footed for my liking,totally bottles any sort of challenge where he may get hurt(understandable due to his leg break-but ash never bottled 'em) is useless in the air and is not very strong or mindbendingly quick.
Mark Albrighton could cover him if we play someone else on the right

Etherington could do a similar job for us on the left-I assume he would be half the price(ish) -just keep him away from the bookies!