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

[murgsy]

apparently Spam want to loan Parker ....for 4 million??!!

Of course they do. They get plenty of cash but still get him back next season.
It's not going to happen though.

Agree - I still think that Chelsea (Essien injury) or Spurs will be the likely destination
Not sure he will return to the Championship though. West Ham will struggle to get back, methinks

No, I mean the deal West Ham want wont happen. I can definitely see him coming to Villa.

Wait and see, I guess. He would be a good addition. Not just on the pitch. He strikes me as good leader who can motivate and support others. With Delph and Makoun in front of him - it should be a very dynamic centre of the park

[Mazrim]

What we all mostly agree on...?

- The board have handled this summer with the delicate touch of Peter Sutcliffe.
- We can replace Downing.
- Young will be difficult to replace.
- The manager is not who/what we wanted or remotely close. But we want him to do well.
- We need massive investment in the squad. Especially now. NOW!!!!
- What happens in the next few weeks is vital.
- Paul Faulkner is hopeless.

[john e]

Even if we buy N'Zogbia, we'll have gone from having Young and Downing with Albrighton as a capable young backup, to N'Zogbia and Albrighton with no back up.  Which quite frankly, is a load of old shit.

It's not a load of old shit as N'Zogbia is better than Downing and we'd be better off than where we were with Downing and Albrighton. However, we do still need another player in, which could be a player that can cover wide as well as the middle. Like Young did I suppose. At least we'd have money from the Downing sale to buy N'Zogbia AND another player.

I sense a bit of trying to make Downing out to be not as good as he was now that he's left.  I've seen nothing from N'Zogbia to suggest that he's better than Downing at all, and don't imagine that if he does move, that it'll be for more than £10m.

not from me mate, i've always said Downings was a average at best player,

agree with you about N'sogbia though, i dont know how good he is to be honest, everyone's rating him and going on about how we need him but i havent seen enough of him to make a judgement,
i mean is he a Downing sort of winger where he never actually beats a man, but every now and then puts in a decent cross, or can he actually take a man on and beat him ie Young,Nani, Lennon etc

without doubt Young will be a big loss, and i dont think we can replace him, but as i have said a million times or more i would choose Allbrighton over Downing every day of the week

[Mazrim]

N'Zogbia is skillful on the ball and can beat a man, he's quicker than Downing and stronger. He used to play left back too so can actually tackle. I think he's an impressive player and would suit us more than Downing did.

Dont get me wrong, he's a different sort of player to Downing and though I think he's better, it's marginal.
But the fact he could be half the price and let us spend elsewhere is attractive.

[UsualSuspect]

Even if we buy N'Zogbia, we'll have gone from having Young and Downing with Albrighton as a capable young backup, to N'Zogbia and Albrighton with no back up.  Which quite frankly, is a load of old shit.

It's not a load of old shit as N'Zogbia is better than Downing and we'd be better off than where we were with Downing and Albrighton. However, we do still need another player in, which could be a player that can cover wide as well as the middle. Like Young did I suppose. At least we'd have money from the Downing sale to buy N'Zogbia AND another player.

I sense a bit of trying to make Downing out to be not as good as he was now that he's left.  I've seen nothing from N'Zogbia to suggest that he's better than Downing at all, and don't imagine that if he does move, that it'll be for more than £10m.

not from me mate, i've always said Downings was a average at best player,

agree with you about N'sogbia though, i dont know how good he is to be honest, everyone's rating him and going on about how we need him but i havent seen enough of him to make a judgement,
i mean is he a Downing sort of winger where he never actually beats a man, but every now and then puts in a decent cross, or can he actually take a man on and beat him ie Young,Nani, Lennon etc

without doubt Young will be a big loss, and i dont think we can replace him, but as i have said a million times or more i would choose Allbrighton over Downing every day of the week

I would have Albrighton over Downing and he stats back him up.

I can't once remember Downing knocking the ball past his man and bombing down the line.

Plus he was shit at tracking back which made Warnock look even more rubbish.

Downing was a disgrace in his first season and average last season so 20 million come on down.

How shit is that Liverpool midfield going to be with Downing, henderson & Adam

[john e]

N'Zogbia is skillful on the ball and can beat a man, he's quicker than Downing and stronger. He used to play left back too so can actually tackle. I think he's an impressive player and would suit us more than Downing did.

Dont get me wrong, he's a different sort of player to Downing and though I think he's better, it's marginal.
But the fact he could be half the price and let us spend elsewhere is attractive.

well if he can do what you say he will be a good addition, i know we are not buying in Harrods so he would seem a decent chance,

just on another matter, did AM not try to buy Paulychenko when he was at Blues, i think he would be perfect to play alongside Bent, obviously dependent on how much money we are willing to invest

[Phil from the upper holte]

Mcgready would be a very poor signing

[JJ-AV]

Given
Luke - Collins - Dunne - Warnock
Parker - Makoun
N'Zogbia - Ireland - Gabby
Bent

Mix of experience and youth. All good on the ball, alot of steel, alot of goals and all versatile.

That team could be 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-5-1.

And it would leave us at right this second of a profit of around £15m.

[Shrek]

What if Mcleish is thinking of playing

------Makoun----Delph----------
NZogbia----Ireland----Albrighton
-------------Bent----------------

Ireland is better than young IN THAT position if we can get him to play.
NZogbia is better than Downing
Albrighton can on improve.

[Mazrim]

What if Mcleish is thinking of playing

------Makoun----Delph----------
NZogbia----Ireland----Albrighton
-------------Bent----------------

Ireland is better than young IN THAT position if we can get him to play.
NZogbia is better than Downing
Albrighton can on improve.

I like it but perhaps defensively light. I'd be happier with another tenacious player alongside Delph, like Parker. With Makoun an option from the bench or an alternative to Ireland in a more withdrawn role.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

What we all mostly agree on...?

- The board have handled this summer with the delicate touch of Peter Sutcliffe.
- We can replace Downing.
- Young will be difficult to replace.
- The manager is not who/what we wanted or remotely close. But we want him to do well.
- We need massive investment in the squad. Especially now. NOW!!!!
- What happens in the next few weeks is vital.
- Paul Faulkner is hopeless.

I think that pretty much sums it up.
Bung it on the General's thread.

[ROBBO]

Suddenly everyone is optimistic that Ireland will turn out to be okay after all, he has a lot of previous, what happens the first time he gets taken off early? leopard and spots come to mind.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

Don't know if this has been already mentioned, but would people agree with me in thinking the reason the Given deal hasn't been concluded is because Eck is waiting for Downing to leave, then use some of the money to go for his real No 1 target - Foster.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

Suddenly everyone is optimistic that Ireland will turn out to be okay after all, he has a lot of previous, what happens the first time he gets taken off early? leopard and spots come to mind.

It shows how desperate things are becoming that people are actually pinning their hopes on Ireland coming good. I personally hoped we'd seen the last of him. It will all end in tears.

[Mazrim]

Don't know if this has been already mentioned, but would people agree with me in thinking the reason the Given deal hasn't been concluded is because Eck is waiting for Downing to leave, then use some of the money to go for his real No 1 target - Foster.

Fine by me. I like Given but Foster would be better.
I think it will be Given though.