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

[Rick_avfc]

Not that there is any such rumour of this but i seriously feel we should consider Owen Hargreaves, aside of all the injury problems he feels confident that he's now OK, some sort of deal must be able to be worked out in relation to his injury problem and we all know Owen Hargreaves when firing on all cylinders is a very good midfielder, much better than Villa could have ever expected to field in normal circumstances.

We should look at him, also there is the point that the guy needs a way back into the game, someone should give him that chance with a bit of dignity, Villa could easily do that.

Not sure about this at all.  Utd got rid of him for a reason.  he is too much of a risk despite his efforts on You tube of trying to convince people he is fit

I agree, but a team like Utd think differently to most, there he is taking up a berth, here, providing the financial arrangement was in Villa's favour, we could be taking on one very determined player, and Hargreaves in that mood is pretty mighty to have in your squad.

Yes, we could be taking on a determined player but we could be also taking on someone who will get injured and we will have to pay his wages while he gets fit.  Its too much of a risk

[Eigentor]

I'm off round to Chris Smith's to raid his medicine cabinet for some Prozac.

Even Chris Smith seems to be turning sour.

They've been softening us up for Downing going ever since they let it be known McLeish would not be getting all of the Young money.

Wouldn't be surprised if Downing now hands in a transfer request, spouting all the usual bollocks. We reluctantly accept it, spouting all the usual bollocks. It will mean we can accept a slightly lower offer as we won't have his contract to pay up.

We then buy inferior players while some on here tell us we've got the best of the deal, a la Milner.

Personally, I cling to the desperate hope that McLeish will surprise us. But to me, a pleasant surprise would be mid-table safety.

What I fear is that bad news ("Er, it's not Ancelotti or Fat Benny, but Big 'Ech") will be followed by more bad news ("We sold Young as you expected, but we couldn't hold onto Downing either"), which will be followed by yet more bad news ("The season has started, and we have only signed Shay Given, who's injured"), followed by an underwhelming start to the season despite easy fixtures, giving the sense that we've started a freefall, not a retrenchment ("Er, the transfer window has now closed and who exactly did we sign?").

[Villanation]

Not that there is any such rumour of this but i seriously feel we should consider Owen Hargreaves, aside of all the injury problems he feels confident that he's now OK, some sort of deal must be able to be worked out in relation to his injury problem and we all know Owen Hargreaves when firing on all cylinders is a very good midfielder, much better than Villa could have ever expected to field in normal circumstances.

We should look at him, also there is the point that the guy needs a way back into the game, someone should give him that chance with a bit of dignity, Villa could easily do that.

Not sure about this at all.  Utd got rid of him for a reason.  he is too much of a risk despite his efforts on You tube of trying to convince people he is fit

I agree, but a team like Utd think differently to most, there he is taking up a berth, here, providing the financial arrangement was in Villa's favour, we could be taking on one very determined player, and Hargreaves in that mood is pretty mighty to have in your squad.

Yes, we could be taking on a determined player but we could be also taking on someone who will get injured and we will have to pay his wages while he gets fit.  Its too much of a risk

That's my point about signing him on a basis that is in Villa's favour, that's the very point, pay him per month or game on a roll over contract, its not unknown, the main thing is what if he is now fit, what if he doesn't get injured, what if Owen Hargreaves works out for Villa, we would have  a world class and ready made player on our hands that would cost us nothing more than our next game.

Could easily be a gift horse in the mouth scenario.

And if it did work out when was the last time we had a midfielder of that class.

[Rick_avfc]

Not that there is any such rumour of this but i seriously feel we should consider Owen Hargreaves, aside of all the injury problems he feels confident that he's now OK, some sort of deal must be able to be worked out in relation to his injury problem and we all know Owen Hargreaves when firing on all cylinders is a very good midfielder, much better than Villa could have ever expected to field in normal circumstances.

We should look at him, also there is the point that the guy needs a way back into the game, someone should give him that chance with a bit of dignity, Villa could easily do that.

Not sure about this at all.  Utd got rid of him for a reason.  he is too much of a risk despite his efforts on You tube of trying to convince people he is fit

I agree, but a team like Utd think differently to most, there he is taking up a berth, here, providing the financial arrangement was in Villa's favour, we could be taking on one very determined player, and Hargreaves in that mood is pretty mighty to have in your squad.

Yes, we could be taking on a determined player but we could be also taking on someone who will get injured and we will have to pay his wages while he gets fit.  Its too much of a risk

That's my point about signing him on a basis that is in Villa's favour, that's the very point, pay him per month or game on a roll over contract, its not unknown, the main thing is what if he is now fit, what if he doesn't get injured, what if Owen Hargreaves works out for Villa, we would have  a world class and ready made player on our hands that would cost us nothing more than our next game.

Could easily be a gift horse in the mouth scenario.

And if it did work out when was the last time we had a midfielder of that class.

How many times did he get himself fit for UTD in recent history and then get injured again?  There is no point in going in for him.  i'd rather play the youth players than him.  Yes he was a good player but I do not think he can reproduce that form again.

[JUAN PABLO]

The Sun

ALEX McLEISH is ready with a £3million offer to give Alan Hutton a quick way out of Tottenham.

Big Eck wants to make the Scotland international one of his first signings at Aston Villa - 12 months after failing to lure him to Birmingham.

McLeish had a £6m bid for his former Rangers right-back rejected by Spurs last summer.

But now he is eyeing up a cut-price move for the defender after being told Villa cannot have England Under-21 star Kyle Walker on another loan.

Walker has just signed a new five-year deal and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp made it clear he expects him to challenge for a first-team place after impressing during loan spells with Villa and QPR last term and at this summer's European Under-23 Championships.

Hutton cost Tottenham a whopping £9m from Rangers in February 2008.

But the Scot is entering the final year of his contract and Spurs could be happy to cash in on a cut-price deal now rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.

Hutton, 26, was already behind Vedran Corluka in the pecking order and is keen to make a fresh start away from North London after just 51 appearances in 3½ years at Spurs.

He also had a spell on loan at Sunderland in 2010 and Black Cats manager Steve Bruce wanted to sign him permanently - but was unwilling to meet Spurs' £5m valuation.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3679224/Alex-McLeish-ready-to-pounce-for-Alan-Hutton.html#ixzz1RHPG5nFg

I believe all transfer gossip now in The Sun , so this must be true as they are probably tapping AM and Randys phone ...

[Rip Van We Go Again]

If and I say if it is true that the young money was spent in advance on bent and that we have only the cash left for a keeper as kendrick says

If that statement from mat is correct, then the board have clearly chucked the towel in and maybe they should be thinking of a prospective buyer.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I'm off round to Chris Smith's to raid his medicine cabinet for some Prozac.

Even Chris Smith seems to be turning sour.

They've been softening us up for Downing going ever since they let it be known McLeish would not be getting all of the Young money.

Wouldn't be surprised if Downing now hands in a transfer request, spouting all the usual bollocks. We reluctantly accept it, spouting all the usual bollocks. It will mean we can accept a slightly lower offer as we won't have his contract to pay up.

We then buy inferior players while some on here tell us we've got the best of the deal, a la Milner.

Personally, I cling to the desperate hope that McLeish will surprise us. But to me, a pleasant surprise would be mid-table safety.

What I fear is that bad news ("Er, it's not Ancelotti or Fat Benny, but Big 'Ech") will be followed by more bad news ("We sold Young as you expected, but we couldn't hold onto Downing either"), which will be followed by yet more bad news ("The season has started, and we have only signed Shay Given, who's injured"), followed by an underwhelming start to the season despite easy fixtures, giving the sense that we've started a freefall, not a retrenchment ("Er, the transfer window has now closed and who exactly did we sign?").

When Smudger is having doubts about the club's direction, then you know that something is seriously wrong.
And it is.

[Villanation]

Not that there is any such rumour of this but i seriously feel we should consider Owen Hargreaves, aside of all the injury problems he feels confident that he's now OK, some sort of deal must be able to be worked out in relation to his injury problem and we all know Owen Hargreaves when firing on all cylinders is a very good midfielder, much better than Villa could have ever expected to field in normal circumstances.

We should look at him, also there is the point that the guy needs a way back into the game, someone should give him that chance with a bit of dignity, Villa could easily do that.

Not sure about this at all.  Utd got rid of him for a reason.  he is too much of a risk despite his efforts on You tube of trying to convince people he is fit

I agree, but a team like Utd think differently to most, there he is taking up a berth, here, providing the financial arrangement was in Villa's favour, we could be taking on one very determined player, and Hargreaves in that mood is pretty mighty to have in your squad.

Yes, we could be taking on a determined player but we could be also taking on someone who will get injured and we will have to pay his wages while he gets fit.  Its too much of a risk

That's my point about signing him on a basis that is in Villa's favour, that's the very point, pay him per month or game on a roll over contract, its not unknown, the main thing is what if he is now fit, what if he doesn't get injured, what if Owen Hargreaves works out for Villa, we would have  a world class and ready made player on our hands that would cost us nothing more than our next game.

Could easily be a gift horse in the mouth scenario.

And if it did work out when was the last time we had a midfielder of that class.

How many times did he get himself fit for UTD in recent history and then get injured again?  There is no point in going in for him.  i'd rather play the youth players than him.  Yes he was a good player but I do not think he can reproduce that form again.

That's fair enough, and it may also be the case that he's never fit enough again for this level, on the other hand he just maybe, and we would have one hell of a player.

I'm not suggesting we offer him massive wages, i'm not suggesting we offer him a lengthy contract, but we could take advantage of a situation going begging here, if it don't work out, let him go, you mention youth players, having a player like Hargreaves working within the club could pay major benefits for any such youth players, point is if Owen Hargreaves is prepared to stick himself on Youtube to demonstrate "here i am give me a chance", i'll be honest with you, i would rather risk Hargreaves than some twat that can't wait to get out the club and of to another club as soon as they start showing interest, that's a much more damaging and riskier situation.

[JUAN PABLO]

Not that there is any such rumour of this but i seriously feel we should consider Owen Hargreaves, aside of all the injury problems he feels confident that he's now OK, some sort of deal must be able to be worked out in relation to his injury problem and we all know Owen Hargreaves when firing on all cylinders is a very good midfielder, much better than Villa could have ever expected to field in normal circumstances.

We should look at him, also there is the point that the guy needs a way back into the game, someone should give him that chance with a bit of dignity, Villa could easily do that.

Not sure about this at all.  Utd got rid of him for a reason.  he is too much of a risk despite his efforts on You tube of trying to convince people he is fit

I agree, but a team like Utd think differently to most, there he is taking up a berth, here, providing the financial arrangement was in Villa's favour, we could be taking on one very determined player, and Hargreaves in that mood is pretty mighty to have in your squad.

pay as you play  .If he plays , he gets a Balti pie and Stella , if he doesnt through injury , he gets a comfy hospital bed ..

[Concrete John]

If and I say if it is true that the young money was spent in advance on bent and that we have only the cash left for a keeper as kendrick says

If that statement from mat is correct, then the board have clearly chucked the towel in and maybe they should be thinking of a prospective buyer.

For me it's always actions that speak louder than any story/link/gossip, even from someone usually well informed like Kendrick.  I'm sure the whole 'we are broke' and 'sell to buy' stories were flying around in January, too.

I'm still in the wait and see camp.

[Mazrim]

Me too. Even if they have pissed me off so far this summer, I'm not going to hammer the board until they've had a chance to put it right and there is still plenty of time for that.

[UsualSuspect]

Not that there is any such rumour of this but i seriously feel we should consider Owen Hargreaves, aside of all the injury problems he feels confident that he's now OK, some sort of deal must be able to be worked out in relation to his injury problem and we all know Owen Hargreaves when firing on all cylinders is a very good midfielder, much better than Villa could have ever expected to field in normal circumstances.

We should look at him, also there is the point that the guy needs a way back into the game, someone should give him that chance with a bit of dignity, Villa could easily do that.

Not sure about this at all.  Utd got rid of him for a reason.  he is too much of a risk despite his efforts on You tube of trying to convince people he is fit

Exactly

he has played 37 games in 4 seasons

Even pay as you play would be shit

[Percy McCarthy]

then why do you want Downing? Honestly, he's been one of our better players last season but thats not saying much really. A Downing on full form is hardly going to worry the likes of Manu, Citeh and chelsea. He's just not that good frankly.

I agree. I think he's quite a pragmatic target - we'd be missing a trick having a striker who's dominant in the air but nobody to put the ball on his head. Downing is as consistent with his left-foot as anybody else in England, right?

Liverpool played quite well against the top sides last season but faltered against the bottom. And with no CL, we can't attract the best players so my guess is we're targeting proven PL performers like Adam and Downing to improve consistency and investing in the future with the likes of Henderson and Wickham (oops).

Fair enough. putting on my neutral hat since we bought him he's not pulled up any trees and i wouldn't rate him much higher than what he cost us. Obviously we'll screw you for every penny we can get but comparing him with the 3 previous midfielders we've lost he doesn't come close. Barry was consistent and adapable, milner, well you could build a team round him - we did unfortunately. Young had his defects but you can see why Ferguson wanted him. Downing, well he's a less skillfull, more consistent mcmannnnnammmmannnn. er man. At 26 i doubt he's going to get much better as he didn't even manage to get up to his Boro form with us.  Bizarre if true, but i'm guessing we'll take the money.

I pretty much agree with all that.

Me too.

[Eigentor]

It's all very well saying that Downing isn't all that jazz, can't tackle and not really a realiable crosser of the ball. But as we have lost Fridel, Walker, NRC and Young already this summer, maybe it's a better idea to start looking for replacements rather than continue selling the rest of our regular first team last season.

[Mister E]

I would expect the new management team to paly their hand in the next two weeks re acquisitions / disposals. Until 22/23 July it seems a little masochistic to speculate on what's happening.
Although it's just as masochistic just been on this site right now ...

... I'll get my coat.