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

[Greg N'Ash]

you can't build a team around a bloke who will be 31 come october. If we had just finished 6th or 5th and it was a push to get into the CL then i'd say it was price worth paying for 2/3 seasons. As it stands, with the team badly weakened  even from the squad that managed the mid-table finish i'd rather build a strong base and look for someone who will still be in our plans after 2013.

[KevinGage]

If it was him and Given as our next purchases, I'd hope that would pretty much be it for the older heads.  Otherwise we run the risk of stockpiling OAP's John Gregory style.

[KRS]

I'd take Parker over Adam, N'Zogbia over Downing, and Bent over Carroll...with all the talk of what Liverpool are doing and who they are signing, I know which club would have done the better business.

SWP is surplus to requirements, clearly low on confidence when playing for Citeh/England last season, and must surely now have a point to prove...could actually be a good move. Would obviously prefer Milner or Adam Johnston at Villa Park, but doubt either are realistic targets (saying that, both may struggle for games next season if they dont move on).

Porno-dwarf was on SSN last night saying they would consider loaning out Parker for a season "until they got promoted"...and I dont fancy their chances of bouncing straight back up either.

[Mazrim]

you can't build a team around a bloke who will be 31 come october.

Of course you can. Its not like he's some special type of player that wont be replaceable when he retires.
Like I said, one of Delph or Gardner or both (who I personally think will better players) will slot in to take over. Or it gives us a few years to source a replacement.
In the meantime he's perhaps Captain and runs our midfield also linking defence and attack, hence build the team around him.

We have to get past this resale value bollocks. Yes, you have to watch how many older players you have but we arent struggling for younger players and that wont change for sometime to come by the looks of it. What we need right now, is Parker or somebody like him.
Makoun is still finding his feet here, Petrov isnt really good enough or up to it anymore and the rest are inexperienced. We need somebody who knows the league and can hit the ground running and lead by example.
It's one of those no brainers people talk about.

[KevinGage]

If you look at it this way...


Shay Given-------------35

Luke Young------------ 31
James Collins-----------26
Richard Dunne---------31
Stephen Warnock-----29

Jean Makoun-----------28
Scott Parker------------30
Fabian Delph-----------21

Mark Albrighton-------21
Darren Bent-----------27
Charles N'Zogbia------25


And the likes of:

Ireland--------------24
Petrov---------------32
Bannan-------------21
Gardner-------------18
Delfouneso---------20
Cuellar--------------29
Clark----------------21


we're not in too bad shape age wise.

[Greg N'Ash]

If we bid for SWP i'd despair frankly.  He can't cross better than yer average centre half so he's pointless. No surprise he was dumped by chelsea and is now on Citeh's firesale list

[Greg N'Ash]

you can't build a team around a bloke who will be 31 come october.

Of course you can. Its not like he's some special type of player that wont be replaceable when he retires.
Like I said, one of Delph or Gardner or both (who I personally think will better players) will slot in to take over. Or it gives us a few years to source a replacement.
In the meantime he's perhaps Captain and runs our midfield also linking defence and attack, hence build the team around him.

We have to get past this resale value bollocks. Yes, you have to watch how many older players you have but we arent struggling for younger players and that wont change for sometime to come by the looks of it. What we need right now, is Parker or somebody like him.
Makoun is still finding his feet here, Petrov is really up to it anymore and the rest are inexperienced. We need somebody who knows the league and can hit the ground running and lead by example.
It's one of those no brainers people talk about.

I take it thats a typo and should read petrov isn't up to it anymore? if so thats my point. Petrov now, Parker in 12 months time.

[Mazrim]

I dont see the point in SWP and doubt theres anything in it either but with N'Zogbia and Albrighton as starters (if we even play 2 wingers) he would be no more than back up.
He wouldnt be bad in that scenario but then I'm sure another team could find him regular starting football.

Christ, Ive got to get some kip.

[KevinGage]

If he's happy enough to come here as back up then maybe, but if him and N'Zog played in the same team you'd effectively have two wingers with dodgy delivery.

They both like to run at defenders and open up the play that way, N'Zog does that better than Wright Phillips and will always weigh in with a few goals -primarily because he's a greedy barsteward.

[Greg N'Ash]

If you look at it this way...


Shay Given-------------35

Luke Young------------ 31
James Collins-----------26
Richard Dunne---------31
Stephen Warnock-----29

Jean Makoun-----------28
Scott Parker------------30
Fabian Delph-----------21

Mark Albrighton-------21
Darren Bent-----------27
Charles N'Zogbia------25


And the likes of:

Ireland--------------24
Petrov---------------32
Bannan-------------21
Gardner-------------18
Delfouneso---------20
Cuellar--------------29
Clark----------------21


we're not in too bad shape age wise.

you do need a mix i agree, but i'd rather we spent the big money on younger players personally. I'd have no problem with us spending 8m on a younger version of parker or indeed 5m on the current parker which is probably decent value. if we were chelsea and they spent 8m on him i'd say that was decent value because it will probably help keep them in the CL money trough. But we're not chelsea and unless AM is as convinced about Delph and Garnder as Mazrim is, then the board may have to cough up 8m again in 2/3 years

[Louzie0]

If you look at it this way...


Shay Given-------------35

Luke Young------------ 31
James Collins-----------26
Richard Dunne---------31
Stephen Warnock-----29

Jean Makoun-----------28
Scott Parker------------30
Fabian Delph-----------21

Mark Albrighton-------21
Darren Bent-----------27
Charles N'Zogbia------25


And the likes of:

Ireland--------------24
Petrov---------------32
Bannan-------------21
Gardner-------------18
Delfouneso---------20
Cuellar--------------29
Clark----------------21


we're not in too bad shape age wise.

And Agbonlahor,   25

[KevinGage]

Yeah, of course.   I knew there was one. That omission wasn't deliberate

----


I agree Greg, my first instinct would be that a fee anywhere near that size should be spent on a player in the 22-28 years bracket.  But we need a leader, and he definitely fits that category. As a one off, I'd be OK with it.

[KRS]

But we need a leader, and he definitely fits that category. As a one off, I'd be OK with it.

The case for Parker rests. When was the last time we had a true vocal leader and captain at VP? We've been missing a true leader on the pitch since the days of Richardson and Townsend.

£7m offer reported:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/258712/Aston-Villa-put-in-7m-offer-for-Scott-Parker

[lessealey]

I agree we need an experienced midfielder/leader. I will put my head on the block and say I would prefer Barton to Parker. Parker is the better player but I just get the feeling he has played his best football. Barton would be approx half the cost in terms of wages and fee and has 4-5 years in him rather than 2-3. Plus if you want to play 442, Barton could play on the right side with Nzogbia on the left, which would be a nice balance.

He is dickhead but I would take the risk.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Seems we may have Downing's replacement lined up. Quick translation from FiorentinaNews.com

According to a report tonight from SkySport24 Aston Villa's new manager Alex McLeish seems to have offered to Fiorentina twenty million to secure the services of Juan Manuel Vargas. An offer is very important that the Viola could consider, as this would allow capital gains Corvino to intervene in the market firmly.

Peruvian international, Viola captain and attacking midfieler. Interesting.