January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[ozzjim]

Drogba cough Ginola cough....

Seasonal illness, Ozz?

What madness to bring in someone like Drogba whom Chelsea have had trouble motivating.
If we are wanting to run the club on strict financial lines, then you have to invest in younger playeres with some resale. End of.
Bringing in the likes of Drogba runs completely contrary to what we're being told.

I think so mate, the ghost of christmas past might have given it too me, some french winger who our manager at the time described as a bit porky I seem to recall. This never works for Villa, and unless it is a pro as brilliant as someone like Gullit was when he went to Chelsea, it won't come off and will create resentment. I can see the argument, but if Drogba was all there and firing, he would get the 2 year deal at Chelsea he is so good.

[KevinGage]

Instead of 750k for Robbie Keane and whatever wages McEachran might request, I'd be more inclined to go for a player like Maynard at Bristol City.

For one thing, he'd be ours.

For another, he'd see the club as a step up.   Not a temporary training camp, or a place to get a bit of match fitness.

There is always a gamble with players coming from the lower divisions.  But if it works out you save a fortune.  Even if he turns out to be a Beckford, he's young enough to ensure that we still get some of our money back.

[ozzjim]

I am with you Kevin. France, Holland and our own lower leagues provide enough players at the 20-25 bracket at a decent price that are worth the gamble.

McEachran and Keane.. you can hear the barrel being scrapped. I thought Montgomerie had come in as chief scout, surely he can find better than this? A 20 year old Arteta would be good!

[Merv]

When Spurs were linked with Samba recently I'm sure it was for a lot less than £15m.  I also think Alex might be gettable from Chelsea.       

I agree, John. I'd be stunned if anyone paid £10m for Samba, let alone £15m. And I rate Alex, too. It's just that he's yet another good CB who's looked vulnerable alongside John Terry (hang on.... penny drops......)

[charlie]

Keane.. rather not
Drogbaaaa.... old lazy difficult.. no
Macechran.... why, we have young midfielders needing experience why help Chelsea
Maynard.. why not, Fonz to Bristol City for season as part of deal, or better since they already have David James why not offer experience up front as part of the deal??
Then they would have a plan B

[Simon Ward]

I'm sure it has been asked before but Robbie Keane, why?

[PaulWinch again]

It seems that Mcleish is adopting the O'Neill approach to transfers, British Isles only.

[PeterWithe]

It seems that Mcleish is adopting the O'Neill approach to transfers, British Isles only.

Not so sure about that, he bought plenty of foreign players for that lot. Not that any of them were any good mind.

[PaulWinch again]

Ah true, but as yet he hasn't given any signs of doing that for us. Hopefully he will spread the net a lot lot wider, and we'll get value for money and quality.

[Risso]

Are people really turning their noses up at Drogba?  Not that he'd come here anyway.

[PeterWithesShin]

Are people really turning their noses up at Drogba?  Not that he'd come here anyway.

Yes, i'd be surprised if people weren't.

[Concrete John]

It seems that Mcleish is adopting the O'Neill approach to transfers, British Isles only.

To be fair he's only bought three players so far, so hardly enough to draw any conclusions from.  Houllier was widely beleived to be our saviour in terms of foreign scouting, yet of his 4 signings (Pires, Walker, Makoun & Bent) only one was from overseas.  He probably would have spread the bet further had he stayed, but it's quality not country or origin that's important anyway!

[Rick_avfc]

bad news chaps,  according to Tom Ross, Eck has said Robbie Keane is the only bit of business he expects to be doing this transfer window.  He should be signed by next week before the Everton game.

[fredm]

To be honest if I were a player like Hoillett or Samba I wouldn't choose to go to Villa. We have shown absolutely no ambition of late and appear very much in the decline.

Spot on.  Any player in the PL who has any ambition is not going to even look at Villa. Why should they?  A manager who has relegations on his CV.  An owner who is Mr Invisible who is looking to recover whatever money he can.  And a crowd who seem to boo the team off every other match.  Why should they want to come to VP?

[PeterWithe]

yet of his 4 signings (Pires, Walker, Makoun & Bent) only one was from overseas. 

Half of them surely?