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

[Maradona10]

I'd seriously worry for some of our younger players, the man is a jeykll and hyde character, at the moment things are going his way in terms of football, but could you imagine what he'd be like if he needed dropping, he's a loose cannon we just don't need.

[KRS]

I dont ever remember us signing a player that was "hated" by footballer supporters in general. It would be the first for Villa...in my lifetime anyway. He really is a nasty little bastard and certainly wouldnt fit in with the Villa "image"...saying that I dont know him personally and he could actually be a "decent chap" *cough*

[dave.woodhall]

I dont ever remember us signing a player that was "hated" by footballer supporters in general. It would be the first for Villa...in my lifetime anyway. He really is a nasty little bastard and certainly wouldnt fit in with the Villa "image"...saying that I dont know him personally and he could actually be a "decent chap" *cough*

John Fashanu.

[avfcpg]

Kills me to admit it, but he'd do well for us. He's a nasty fucker but he's a very good player. A massive step up from NRC, but he comes with a warning that he's likely to do something mental t some point. We'd be playing with fire, but if like the Force he can be controlled and not be seduced by the Dark Side, a powerful weapon can he be.

I agree...don't like him and woud prefer Parker. But if we are in the market for a cheap or free option then he fits the bill perfectly...we'd be a better side with him. Certainly worth a punt. I mean we've appointed the blose manager, sold ashley and downing, signing him would hardly cause a ripple by comparison!!
Makoun, Barton, Ireland in the middle is a good mix IMO.

[KRS]

Hadnt he reached "celebrity" status by then so not quite the pantomine villain he once was?

[Toronto Villa]

I think the club can have different images on and off the pitch. A kick up the backside for our on pitch image wouldn't go amiss. We need to get nastier and not accept being second best as readily as we sometimes do. Barton does do charity work off the pitch with the Sporting Chance Clinic so he's not a complete bad egg. If we are going to move forward, and while he's not the first person in the world I'd choose for the midfield hard-man role, he'd be a good player to have. We'd just need to handle the person side of it.

[dave.woodhall]

Hadnt he reached "celebrity" status by then so not quite the pantomine villain he once was?

He was certainly none too popular. And Neale Cooper was the most hated player in Scotland when we signed him.

[Clampy]

I dont ever remember us signing a player that was "hated" by footballer supporters in general. It would be the first for Villa...in my lifetime anyway. He really is a nasty little bastard and certainly wouldnt fit in with the Villa "image"...saying that I dont know him personally and he could actually be a "decent chap" *cough*

John Fashanu.

I don't remember Fash being hated that much, i just remember everyone being totally stunned when we bought him.

[Toronto Villa]

I dont ever remember us signing a player that was "hated" by footballer supporters in general. It would be the first for Villa...in my lifetime anyway. He really is a nasty little bastard and certainly wouldnt fit in with the Villa "image"...saying that I dont know him personally and he could actually be a "decent chap" *cough*

John Fashanu.

yeh, good call Dave. Fash was hated by a lot of people and one of the nastiest and controversial footballers at the time. Did ok for us though, and by all accounts not a wanker off the pitch.

[eastie]

I was quite pleased when fash signed personally, at least he wasn't in the vinnie  jones or robbie savage mould- ah neale cooper- how sad he suffered such a bad injury and never really showed his best form for us.

[Rotterdam]

Hadnt he reached "celebrity" status by then so not quite the pantomine villain he once was?

He was certainly none too popular. And Neale Cooper was the most hated player in Scotland when we signed him.

Neale Cooper was the most 'tanned' man in Scotland - he was on the cover of the programme on his debut (IIRC), and he would have made Hendrie look anemic.

[asgpaul]

According to Sky two clubs in London and one in the Midlands have already made enquiries to Newcastle, though that probably equates to about potentially 50% of the clubs in the PL given the number of clubs representing those regions.

What a dilemna, think many would shudder at the thought of making a bid for Barton despite majority agreeing he's be the ideal player for us right now, so to suddenly be made available on a free...!!!!

Personally I'd go for him, think McLeish could handle him...!

[ozzjim]

Nailed on for Arsenal surely. Exactly what they need too.

[asgpaul]

Re: Fash, I can remember him kicking the shit out of the advertising boards in front of the dug out once, perhaps in anticipation of comments Big Ron would later make....!?

[D.boy]

Makoun, Ireland, Barton in the middle is a good mix IMO.

The good, the mad & the thugly!