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

[Percy McCarthy]

Diarra is on a free and were not in like a flash. Ridiculous

innit.

[Greg N'Ash]

Makoun worried me in the games I saw him play last season, for every great pass he made, and in fairness he did make a few, there were a lot of basic passes that went out of play etc. Hopefully he will be more used to the English game this season, and if he Ireland and Delph can hit form if could be very good to watch. But I hate how many hopefully and ifs we are relying on this season.

Aye. More IF's than a Telly Savalas Greatest hits album.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

When Eck was appointed we all said they had to back such a controversial appointment. They are seemingly intent on not doing so. Poor sod.

He was always going to be faced with hostility considering where he's come from and his record with them so he certainly needs backing. However he must of been aware of the constraints that he would be working with and yet he was still eager to prove himself at a big club so he's got the confidence (of course the wage increase was handy) lets hope this rubs off on the players.

[Toronto Villa]

Diarra is on a free and were not in like a flash. Ridiculous

Is it? So why hasn't anyone else signed him? Playing for Real Madrid has a lot of clout. He must be able to do a job for CL team let alone us. Maybe his wage/contract demands are ridiculous or he has injury issues that make him a risk? I'm sure his agent has been sending out his DVD to all and sundry yet no takers.

[pauliewalnuts]

Doesn't the "why hasn't anyone else signed him?" argument also apply to pretty much every player we've ever signed?

It's a bit of a non argument. You could use it to say "why didn't anyone else sign N'Zogbia?" which would be similarly meaningless.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Diarra is on a free and were not in like a flash. Ridiculous

Is it? So why hasn't anyone else signed him? Playing for Real Madrid has a lot of clout. He must be able to do a job for CL team let alone us. Maybe his wage/contract demands are ridiculous or he has injury issues that make him a risk? I'm sure his agent has been sending out his DVD to all and sundry yet no takers.

He sent out a plee saying he wanted to play in the premier league and Stoke and Fulham were interested. But nothing materialised. He had a knee injury two years ago but as far as i know he has not had any problems following surgery .....

[Toronto Villa]

Diarra is on a free and were not in like a flash. Ridiculous

Is it? So why hasn't anyone else signed him? Playing for Real Madrid has a lot of clout. He must be able to do a job for CL team let alone us. Maybe his wage/contract demands are ridiculous or he has injury issues that make him a risk? I'm sure his agent has been sending out his DVD to all and sundry yet no takers.

He sent out a plee saying he wanted to play in the premier league and Stoke and Fulham were interested. But nothing materialised. He had a knee injury two years ago but as far as i know he has not had any problems following surgery .....

That's just it though. Why would a player that has played over 100 times for Real Madrid only attract the interest of Stoke and Fulham? And even if he wanted to play in the PL, I can't believe he's sitting by the phone screening calls until the right PL team comes along. You have to think someone of his repute could get solid offers in France, Spain or Germany, let alone England.

[KevinGage]

Lets make things a little interesting. For those who seem certain that all the talk of cutbacks and utilising the players already on the books = no more arrivals, how much are they prepared to wager to that effect?

I'm certain that we'll see at least one more arrival- in fact, I'll be disappointed if it's only one. Two/three would be my guess.

That might well be in the form of one permanent deal, one season long loan and a Curtis Davies style deal -where it's classed as a loan initially but we cough up in the following tax year. Scott Dann at the rabble down the road might be a likely candidate for that kind of move.

I'm sure the tramps would prefer money up front. But they probably wanted that with Foster too. The longer into the window we go with the rags facing the prospect of having to fork out prem wages, the more receptive they might be to such an arrangement.

[Toronto Villa]

Doesn't the "why hasn't anyone else signed him?" argument also apply to pretty much every player we've ever signed?

It's a bit of a non argument. You could use it to say "why didn't anyone else sign N'Zogbia?" which would be similarly meaningless.

You could make that argument but N'Zogbia's not as high profile or as reputable as Diarra. You would think that he'd have a number of legit offers already and not Stoke or Fulham if those are even true. The longer a high profile free agent stays out there unsigned I always wonder why that is? Even if for fans it seems a no brainer to get him, my guess is it is a lot more complex than that for any club looking to acquire his services. I bet is given his age, he's looking for one more big pay day also.

[eamonn]

In your "rely on" list, Collins and Heskey relied on to do what?

Power-hose the back of the North Stand. They would get a Villa testimonial with my blessing after that.

[eastie]

Im wondering if the current financial crisis which is really bad in america too has hit randy hard , and that maybe contributes as to his decision to cut back so much on spending?

Anyone know if the browns are going through similar things?
either way the club needs a couple of players and as the old saying goes you need to spculate to accumolate.

[ozzjim]

Lets make things a little interesting. For those who seem certain that all the talk of cutbacks and utilising the players already on the books = no more arrivals, how much are they prepared to wager to that effect?

I'm certain that we'll see at least one more arrival- in fact, I'll be disappointed if it's only one. Two/three would be my guess.

That might well be in the form of one permanent deal, one season long loan and a Curtis Davies style deal -where it's classed as a loan initially but we cough up in the following tax year. Scott Dann at the rabble down the road might be a likely candidate for that kind of move.

I'm sure the tramps would prefer money up front. But they probably wanted that with Foster too. The longer into the window we go with the rags facing the prospect of having to fork out prem wages, the more receptive they might be to such an arrangement.

When Sky reported Eck saying we needed to strengthen yesterday both local reporters spoke to the club who said that it was a quote taken out of context and related to first teamers coming back against Braga, NOT buying people. If the party AVFC line is that we are done, and again both local reporters are saying that is what they are being told, then unless someone leaves, I think we are done.

[eastie]

Lets make things a little interesting. For those who seem certain that all the talk of cutbacks and utilising the players already on the books = no more arrivals, how much are they prepared to wager to that effect?

I'm certain that we'll see at least one more arrival- in fact, I'll be disappointed if it's only one. Two/three would be my guess.

That might well be in the form of one permanent deal, one season long loan and a Curtis Davies style deal -where it's classed as a loan initially but we cough up in the following tax year. Scott Dann at the rabble down the road might be a likely candidate for that kind of move.

I'm sure the tramps would prefer money up front. But they probably wanted that with Foster too. The longer into the window we go with the rags facing the prospect of having to fork out prem wages, the more receptive they might be to such an arrangement.

When Sky reported Eck saying we needed to strengthen yesterday both local reporters spoke to the club who said that it was a quote taken out of context and related to first teamers coming back against Braga, NOT buying people. If the party AVFC line is that we are done, and again both local reporters are saying that is what they are being told, then unless someone leaves, I think we are done.

peter grant said yesterday that unless players leave he doesnt expect any new signings-bleak days indeed.

[ozzjim]

Just read about Shane Long being tracked by Leicesester and West Ham, good player and if around 5-6 million ideal addition to back up Bent. Just saddens me so much that 5 years on, RAL has been forced/ scared into stop supporting the manager when we are crying out for it.

[eastie]

why would he change from his long term approach?
probably has something to do with the fact that the financial crisis has reaped havoc in the last 2 years or so and randys finances have probably taken a battering -far different times now than when randy took over.

Five years ago the top 4 was achievable but now it is out of reach without enormous cash investment, i suppose randy thinks why spend £40m or so to try and finish 6th rather than 8th and get an extre £2m in prize money.