AM'S first three signings?

[tommy_boy]

Given, Kyle Walker and Taarabt please.

[The Situation]

I certainly won't have a problem if we take Dann, Johnson or Foster off them. They're good players regardless of who they played for. There won't be no backlash, most fans I've spoked too would like us to sign atleast one of the 3 players I mentioned.

We're taking away there prized posession, the noses will feel bitter about that, on the otherhand we give away our bench warmers to small heath so they're more likely to abuse Agents Ridgewell and Davies because they know they're ex-Villa's cast offs.

Anyone who would abuse someone like Foster, Dann or Johnson just because they used to play for small heath needs to be locked in a padded cell.

[Greg N'Ash]

well we'll see, but my guess is the team is doing badly next season and we have 1 or 2 blose players in the team, unless they're pulling up trees for us they will attract the ire of the support more so than the rest because a)they're ex-blose and b)an ex'blose manager bought them.

[The Situation]

If we were signing the likes of Larsson or Jerome I can agree, we'll have a few who'll turn on them but I honestly can't see people taking their anger out on Foster/Dann/Johnson.

Have we ever turned on Petrov or Cuellar calling them Old Firm scumbags etc...?

[Greg N'Ash]

If we were signing the likes of Larsson or Jerome I can agree, we'll have a few who'll turn on them but I honestly can't see people taking their anger out on Foster/Dann/Johnson.

Have we ever turned on Petrov or Cuellar calling them Old Firm scumbags etc...?

eh?

No because they weren't from blose bought by an ex-blose manager.  thats what will matter. Petrov was pants for a season. Do you really think foster would get that breathing space?

[PeterWithesShin]

The more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion we don't have a hope in hell of signing any of Blose's decent players (Dann, Johnson, Foster).

They'll be other clubs in for them without a doubt.  After all the bad blood, why would Blose do anything to help us out?

Well get the same way regardless of whether McLeish is manager. Offer the most money.

Surely paying over the odds for these players wouldn't fall in line with the (supposed) new belt tightening policy.

I doubt we'll get them by bidding less than other clubs bid, do you?

Actually part of my point as to why we won't be able to sign them.

I'm guessing the whole point is that because we signed a crap/cheap/uninspiring/safe* manager it's proof we can't afford their better players, rather than they won't sell to us because we just took their manager?
It was the bad blood/doing us a favour that I was commenting on as I don't think they'd do us a favour and sell cheap whoever our crap/cheap etc manage was. But I believe they would sell to us regardless of manager if we matched the top offer and the player said he wanted to come to us.

*delete as applicable

[taylorsworkrate]

The more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion we don't have a hope in hell of signing any of Blose's decent players (Dann, Johnson, Foster).

They'll be other clubs in for them without a doubt.  After all the bad blood, why would Blose do anything to help us out?

Well get the same way regardless of whether McLeish is manager. Offer the most money.

Surely paying over the odds for these players wouldn't fall in line with the (supposed) new belt tightening policy.

I doubt we'll get them by bidding less than other clubs bid, do you?

Actually part of my point as to why we won't be able to sign them.

I'm guessing the whole point is that because we signed a crap/cheap/uninspiring/safe* manager it's proof we can't afford their better players, rather than they won't sell to us because we just took their manager?
It was the bad blood/doing us a favour that I was commenting on as I don't think they'd do us a favour and sell cheap whoever our crap/cheap etc manage was. But I believe they would sell to us regardless of manager if we matched the top offer and the player said he wanted to come to us.

*delete as applicable

In fairness I probably meant a bit of both.

on the second point, if Us and Arsenal were to say both bid 10 million for Dann, I genuinely believe that Blues are spiteful enough that they would accept the Aresnal bid and reject ours. 

I agree that if we bid more than others they would sell to us (can't see that being the case though), but to sell to us when others are offering the same wouldn't particually ingratiate their board to the knuckledragging fans.

I guess it depends which player we go after whether they'll want to join only us.  I can't see that being Dann or Johnson as I can see a no of good clubs in for them.

Maybe Foster.

[PeterWithesShin]

You are probably right on that, but to be honest, if Dann had a choice between Arsenal and us and he chose us, i'd wonder what he was smoking.

If however it was us and Wigan offering the money, and he said to small heath that he would like to sign for us but had zero interest in Wigan, I think they'd probably sell to us.

[taylorsworkrate]

You are probably right on that, but to be honest, if Dann had a choice between Arsenal and us and he chose us, i'd wonder what he was smoking.

If however it was us and Wigan offering the money, and he said to small heath that he would like to sign for us but had zero interest in Wigan, I think they'd probably sell to us.

Fair point well made.

[ROBBO]

Reports of an offer of ten mil for foster, i would have rather kept the keeper we had and spent the money elsewhere.

[KRS]

We've taken their manager that got them relegated, quit via email, compensated them and their fans are largely glad to see the back of him...why wouldnt they want to take even more money from us to help balance their books? There was no issues when they signed our rejects so no reason why there should be an issue offloading their "better" players to us if we wanted them.

Part of our problem last season was retaining ball possession in front of the back 4 creating more pressure on the defence so I think he should be looking to improve the midfield and working with what he's got in defence other than the fullback positions, and I despise Johnson so hope he never gets the privilege of putting on a Villa shirt.

[The Situation]

What has Johnson done for you to despise him?

[KRS]

Mainly the bitter post match comments he makes (particularly after playing us), what I would consider to be dirty style of play, constantly moaning at the refs, and the fact that he's a "bit shit".

[brontebilly]

Think there is better players available than Foster and Johnson. Foster is hugely overrated and Johnson is a bit too last ditch for my liking.  Dann would be good, Bham went to pieces after he got injured. We already have 4 centre halves on the books though so need to know what we will do with them first.

Barry Ferguson is a better version of Petrov. He might be interested in him. Gardner will earn himself a move to some EPL club, wont be us though. Larsson is a bit meh. All in all, I think we should stay clear of the lot of them.

[Matt Collins]

A keeper: foster, mcgregor, Robinson
Centre back: dann, bougherra, bassong
An all action midfider: NRC, Barton or Gardner

I reckon we'll do business there quite quickly.

Then it'll be onto the more tricky business of finding replacements for young and probably downing. I suspect we won't see 433 which I think is a shame, so it may be:
- 1 winger: n'zogbia, swp, Adam Johnson
- 1 fwd: would love sturridge, but more likely to be someone a bit meh like bentdner, crouch, ba, Zamora.