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

[eastie]

randy gave it his best shot and we blew it , oh if only mon had bought bent instead of harewood and heskey.

[eastie]

Stop all this NEGATIVITY!!

Mat Kendrick
@MatKendrick Mat Kendrick
#avfc unlikely to do any outgoing/incoming business until after admin staff return tomorrow and players report back on Friday
4 hours ago via Mobile Web

Mat told me Villa will be signing players he has assurances of this from his contacts at villa! he couldn't mention any names but did say we have inquired about N'zogbia but more will happen in next 5 to 10 days!

please everyone lets just give it a bit of time

also still 56 days left in transfer window!

mat also said its his understanding there is only cash available for a keeper and any other cash will have to be made through selling.

[Greg N'Ash]

i think most of us already know where we stand with the approaches for Martinez and AM.  Average managers used to surviving (or not) on a limited budget.You don't go and buy a Vauxhall vectra if you're planning to enter formula 1.

so what do we do greg , give up, or just wait until we get a new buyer with wads of cash?

I'm guessing the new '(2)5 year plan' is to follow Everton's route - lower wages, a more balanced budget sheet in regards to transfers, with a much bigger reliance on our youth set-up. Getting the big earners like Downing off the wage bill would fit into that sort of scenario

Is that such a bad thing? 

If you look at the spending power Randy has brought to bear since he took over it's not inconsiderable, yet it isn't enough to buy our way into the top 4.  Even if it was before the whole Man City thing has put paid to that.  So we look to the youth set up, which is a strength of ours anyway, and this allows us to re-focus the money we do have.

I still want to see deals like Milner/Ash/Downing coming it, but no more of the Sidwell/Beye/Harewood.  The kids taking the place of the latter so we can get a few more of the former.     

I guess its not that a bad idea. I have no problem giving the young players a go, in fact i'd welcome it. But its depends if its a means to an end or an end in itself. Its one thing flogging the likes of Young and Downing every year, it would be heartbreaking doing the same with albrighton and co.

[abc123cox]

Stop all this NEGATIVITY!!

Mat Kendrick
@MatKendrick Mat Kendrick
#avfc unlikely to do any outgoing/incoming business until after admin staff return tomorrow and players report back on Friday
4 hours ago via Mobile Web

Mat told me Villa will be signing players he has assurances of this from his contacts at villa! he couldn't mention any names but did say we have inquired about N'zogbia but more will happen in next 5 to 10 days!

please everyone lets just give it a bit of time

also still 56 days left in transfer window!

mat also said its his understanding there is only cash available for a keeper and any other cash will have to be made through selling.

he didn't say through selling he said through players leaving!!!

Young - 65k, Carew 45k, Reo 40k and pires 30k that's nearly 10million plus saved whatever we get after Young! plus any Downing money if we sell!!!!

just have faith

[bob]

It seems to me we've done a lot of "Let's just wait and see..." since 2006.

I don't think I need to wait any longer. It feels like we're just about the biggest sell-to-buy operation in the league. All evidence says so, and I'm certain we won't spend all the money we receive this summer.

Isn't our net spend since 2006 something like £80m?

I'm not sure what that's got to do with anything John.

My point was that each summer since 2006 we've spent the window waiting to see if the club were going to be as ambitious as we were led to believe by the Proud History - Bright Future schtick. Regardless of your opinion on the money spent - it turns out it wasn't quite enough.

Now what I'm saying is that it's clear to me that they're not even going to try that hard anymore and in my opinion we're not going to spend all the money we bring in.

Not sure what anyones waiting for - we're going to be mediocre this season. We sell our best players to the teams above us and have appointed a mediocre manager. It's obvious the strategy has changed since 2006. Either that or it was a lie all along.

[Concrete John]

It seems to me we've done a lot of "Let's just wait and see..." since 2006.

I don't think I need to wait any longer. It feels like we're just about the biggest sell-to-buy operation in the league. All evidence says so, and I'm certain we won't spend all the money we receive this summer.

Isn't our net spend since 2006 something like £80m?

I'm not sure what that's got to do with anything John.

My point was that each summer since 2006 we've spent the window waiting to see if the club were going to be as ambitious as we were led to believe by the Proud History - Bright Future schtick. Regardless of your opinion on the money spent - it turns out it wasn't quite enough.

Now what I'm saying is that it's clear to me that they're not even going to try that hard anymore and in my opinion we're not going to spend all the money we bring in.

Not sure what anyones waiting for - we're going to be mediocre this season. We sell our best players to the teams above us and have appointed a mediocre manager. It's obvious the strategy has changed since 2006. Either that or it was a lie all along.

It depends on what you're waiting for.  If you've been waiting since 2006 for us to crack the top 4 then you'll be disappointed.  If you've been waiting for us to spend money and try, then that is what's happened and what my 'wait and see' is about as I expect us to do it again.   

You say it's clear to you then fine, but I strongly disagree as all we've seen are paper stories and I put very little faith in them.

[abc123cox]

not sure if this was posted ....

posted 4th July...

General Krulak here:

1. The key question asked is, "Will Randy support AM during transfer window?" The answer can be given in two parts 1) When has Randy not supported his Manager? and 2) Yes, Randy will support AM. He will support AM as he has supported all of his Managers...he will work to keep the wage bill at a manageable level and, at the same time, will recognize where the Club needs to be strengthened and support the Manager in meeting those needs.

2. I am on holiday for the 4th of July....which is a weekend, not just one day. Call it a "Bank Weekend."

3. "Premiership experience" was NOT a KEY criteria...it was simply something that we were looking for. I think the rationale is pretty obvious...the understanding of the ins and outs of the Premiership. It was NOT a KEY criteria.

4. jackbauer24: You raise some valid points...not sure I would agree with them but so be it. As an example, I just answered a "Transfer Question" above. I would also say that MUCH has been accomplished through Villa Talk and this thread. Simply put, MUCH has been passed up the line from the Fan's perspective. Over the years I have spoken to many volatile issues....to the degree that I have even found myself on the sports pages of the UK papers. I would not agree that I haven't been up front when I could be.

5. Tjab: Not sure what you mean about "breaking a promise made in late 2006". I think we have tried to adhere to every promise made. "Selling Club?" Barry and Milner....As if we didn't try to keep these two players...as if we didn't try to sign them to a new contract. Totally not true. At some point, a decision needs to be made or you lose the value of the player...simple as that. If the player does not sign the new contract and wants to go, you need to recognize your situation. Downing? Again, rumors that I would only ask that you acknowledge are rumors and not fact. As for who have we replaced with who...let's start with Bent.

6. "Steve McClaren was left out of the process due to Randy taking the fan opinion into account." I am not sure where you came up with that but, although it will make some Fans angry, Football Management does not choose Managers based on "fan opinion." That would not be a smart thing to do. It may be very popular with the fans but it would not be smart.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

I understand Ash leaving. 4yrs of good service and going to Man Utd. Milner again great service and now in the CL. But Downing. 1 season and injured when brought ? He has a 2 yrs left on his contract and we should not be even be saying we are considering selling him. We must keep him buy Nzogbia and Foster/Given and use Baker, Lichja and possibly a powerful midfielder and we are back on track. Sell Warnock, Beye, Heskey, etc and retrieve some money. The outlay would not be that substantial .....

[Villa'Zawg]

i think most of us already know where we stand with the approaches for Martinez and AM.  Average managers used to surviving (or not) on a limited budget.You don't go and buy a Vauxhall vectra if you're planning to enter formula 1.

so what do we do greg , give up, or just wait until we get a new buyer with wads of cash?

I'm guessing the new '(2)5 year plan' is to follow Everton's route - lower wages, a more balanced budget sheet in regards to transfers, with a much bigger reliance on our youth set-up. Getting the big earners like Downing off the wage bill would fit into that sort of scenario

Perhaps then we, too, could have a site like this:

http://www.evertontime.com/

Having signed Jermaine Beckford all further transfer activity is unnecessary ;-)

[Merv]

Calm down, everyone. Lower expectations accordingly and everything will be fine.

It's hard to remain positive right now, try as I might. For me, it's no exaggeration to say I think pretty much everything has gone wrong since the season finished. Yes, there's 50-odd days left in the transfer window, but less to the start of the season, even less to the pre-season training programme, etc.

As others have said, everyone needs a lift and some good news asap.

[eastie]

I understand Ash leaving. 4yrs of good service and going to Man Utd. Milner again great service and now in the CL. But Downing. 1 season and injured when brought ? He has a 2 yrs left on his contract and we should not be even be saying we are considering selling him. We must keep him buy Nzogbia and Foster/Given and use Baker, Lichja and possibly a powerful midfielder and we are back on track. Sell Warnock, Beye, Heskey, etc and retrieve some money. The outlay would not be that substantial .....

who would want beye or heskey? i want players who want to play for aston villa - downing can go if the price is right and lets get people committed to the club.

[Le Lapin]

i think most of us already know where we stand with the approaches for Martinez and AM.  Average managers used to surviving (or not) on a limited budget.You don't go and buy a Vauxhall vectra if you're planning to enter formula 1.

For fucks sake, give the guy a chance. Signing Darren Bent wasn't a Vauxhall move from the board.

No. It was more of a part exchange as Bent was bought with the Milner money.

Unless things change in a radical way, we'll have to assume that Mr Lerner Sir is a remixed Doug Ellis.

If so, that's a real shame after the big strides we made in the first 3 years.

Yeah, spending fortunes on mediocre players that we've had to give away or sell for fraction of their purchase price. Obviously there are the three exceptions, Young, Milner and Downing we have or have to sell to recoup a small bit of the hugh transfer fees we payed for Marlon, Nigel, Petrov et al...
We have a nucleus of a good side and I have no doubt that we'll get the players in to settle the club down and move onwards.

[NeilH]

I understand Ash leaving. 4yrs of good service and going to Man Utd. Milner again great service and now in the CL. But Downing. 1 season and injured when brought ? He has a 2 yrs left on his contract and we should not be even be saying we are considering selling him. We must keep him buy Nzogbia and Foster/Given and use Baker, Lichja and possibly a powerful midfielder and we are back on track. Sell Warnock, Beye, Heskey, etc and retrieve some money. The outlay would not be that substantial .....

who would want beye or heskey? i want players who want to play for aston villa - downing can go if the price is right and lets get people committed to the club.

They're only ever committed to the point at which one of the bigger teams comes knocking and then they want out. The only committed players we will get are those that realise we are the highest level they'll reach. Is that what you mean, cos if that's so then we really are no better than Blackburn of Fulham?

[Greg N'Ash]

The sad thing is we'll probably see an entire england midfield next season at some point with all Villa ex-players. Maybe even Cahil in defence *facepalm*. 12 months time who would bet on Bent not joining the ex-club? I take on board the General's point about trying to keep them but at some stage things have gone wrong. I've mentioned before the need to continually negotiate new contracts and it needs to be looked into - both the length they sign initially and the point we start talking about extensions. It was pretty slack under MON and it didn't seem to noticably improve under GH.

[Eigentor]

3. "Premiership experience" was NOT a KEY criteria...it was simply something that we were looking for. I think the rationale is pretty obvious...the understanding of the ins and outs of the Premiership. It was NOT a KEY criteria.

Well, McLeish knows the ins and certainly the outs of the Premiership. But this comment from the General makes the appointment even more inexplicable. I had the impression that we had a list of available PL-experienced managers with Ancelotti and Moyes on top, Martinez and McLeish at the bottom. But if we had the fantasy to look abroad, how come we had to settle for Big Eck?