January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[Steve R]

Josh McEachran has been told by Chelsea that he can go out on loan in January...

If true, this really is beyond the pale.

McLeish was supposed to get more out of our senior players and develop our youth. All he has managed so far is to send our best player off to a shopping mall and take some dead weight off Spurs' wage bill.

Now he is looking to develop a youngster for Chelsea.

What does this say to our own emerging players? I'd rather see Daniel Johnson in the first team, let alone Gary Gardner.

Meanwhile, if Ciaran Clark - more than adequate in midfield - is ever given a chance, we'll probably have to dust the mould off him first.

christ on a bike.

[timeoutbigbar]

Wonder if Hoilett/N'zonzi fancy jumping ship in Jan?  I'd take either/both of them, and I think Hoilett is in the last year of his contract.

[Concrete John]

Lets not get too worked up over a rumour.  It always happens on here and 99% of them are bollocks.

McEachran is younger than Gardner, so it makes no sense to me and I reckon it's "Villa have lost a loan midfielder to injury.  Chelsea are sending a midfielder out on loan.  That's a few inches sorted - what's next on the pile?"     

[caster troy]

It's also bollocks because he's not a dead man walking.

Randy bet his credibility on this appointment, and has continued to do so since (letters from Ferguson telling him what a good appointment etc). Added to that, it's going to cost us big money in compensation on top of the money we've already spaffed away on previous managers of late.

Personally, I don't think there are any circumstances under which he'd sack him, and absolutely certainly not prior to January. Those who think he is going to are kidding themselves.

Randy is probably convinced he's doing a great job and unaware of any thought to the contrary. And that's the frightening bit.

I didn't say he'd be gone in January, clearly that will be too soon. But if we finish 16th-17th and our attendances drop below 30K consistently towards the end of the season he will be gone by July. I'm also factoring in a huge drop in season ticket renewals and protests/banners etc in the coming months.

He should be doing better with the players he has got. Teams like Norwich and Swansea play better football and get similar results with far worse squads. At best I'd advocate a loan signing or two but if he came to me asking for £3 million to sign Gibson I'd tell him no chance. January is a poor time to do business and I doubt there will be anyone available who we can afford that will improve the squad in any case.

[will.shilt]

I agree about Delfouneso, is it just me or should he have been given a chance seasons ago? Sounds like he has promise, needs some more matchtime though.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Darren Bent to QPR according to the Daily Mirror:

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Transfer-gossip-exclusive-QPR-plot-shock-swoop-for-Darren-Bent-Aston-Villa-striker-in-January-article844963.html

Normally, I wouldn't give it any credence, but it's just the sort of dispiriting, soul-sapping event that seems par for the course at the Villa these days.

[Ads]

We'd want close to our money back?

Lolz.

[Greg N'Ash]

McEachran isn't what we need - he's too young and learning his trade like our existing young players. We need someone who knows the score  and isn't afraid to make his presence felt whether its telling Collins not to hoof it aimlessly upfield to no-one or coming back to help Dunne & Co.. when someone vaguely skillfull is running at them. A sort of Aldi version of Milner.

[Concrete John]

January is a poor time to do business and I doubt there will be anyone available who we can afford that will improve the squad in any case.

I'm sure there were dozens of posts saying the same thing this time last year, right up until the time we broke our transfer record on Darren Bent.

I don't expect the same again, but it at least does put a slight 'wait and see' thought into my mind.

[Clampy]

I like what little bits i've seen of McEachran and he could make an impression like Kyle Walker did last year, but i understand the arguments about it holding back the likes of Gardner and Bannan.

As for Keith Andrews, i hope that is a joke.

[Karl Bridges]

A sort of Aldi version of Milner.

Keith Andrews?

[Clampy]

A sort of Aldi version of Milner.

Keith Andrews?

Who would the Netto version of Milner be? Darren Gibson?

[Steve R]

Lets not get too worked up over a rumour.  It always happens on here and 99% of them are bollocks.
....

yup .. it's always worth prefacing these things with 'if true..'.

The problem is that over the last few years the trend seems to be that the worse the rumour, there more likely it is that it will come to pass.

I had a real good laugh when it was mooted that we were interested in Hutton.

[KevinGage]

A sort of Aldi version of Milner.

Keith Andrews?

I'd sooner dig up Eamonn Andrews and scatter his bones in midfield.

[PaulWinch again]

Darren Bent to QPR according to the Daily Mirror:

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Transfer-gossip-exclusive-QPR-plot-shock-swoop-for-Darren-Bent-Aston-Villa-striker-in-January-article844963.html

Normally, I wouldn't give it any credence, but it's just the sort of dispiriting, soul-sapping event that seems par for the course at the Villa these days.

To be honest why on earth would he want to go there? and the club would go into meltdown if we sold him now.