January Transfer Speculation (or lack of) Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm willing to bet there was on off field business plan. But while there may be targets that a club would like to achieve within a certain time frame on the field, I doubt any club has what any of us would class as a traditional business plan for on field.
Apart from maybe Man City which is to win everything by spending until you win everything.

[Jimmy Smash]

Sorry Dave, I can't explain myself any clearer. The reasonable thing would be to accept that a business of this size has a firm plan. One that has undergone organisational change and seeks financial investment needs to show one for 5 years. It a simple business concept.

[dave.woodhall]

I'm willing to bet there was on off field business plan. But while their may be targets that a club would like to achieve within a certain time frame on the field, I doubt any club has what any of us would class as a business plan for on field. Apart from maybe Man City which is to win everything buy spending until you win everything.

Which is my feelings on the subject. There would have been corporate plans to cover probably every forseeable timescale, but the sort that would be of interest to the average supporter don't exist. 

[kippaxvilla2]

Okay, if I'm talking "bollocks" what was it? And when Paul Faulkner denied its existence last year, what does that indicate?

That Paul Faulkner is utterly useless, and has been promoted way, way above his ability.

The fact that he has produced no strategy for success whatsoever is all you need to know about him.  If ever there was a worse example of a pen pusher being over promoted beyond belief I'd like to see it.

[PeterWithesShin]

Damn my spelling was bad in that post!

[Jimmy Smash]

I'm willing to bet there was on off field business plan. But while their may be targets that a club would like to achieve within a certain time frame on the field, I doubt any club has what any of us would class as a business plan for on field. Apart from maybe Man City which is to win everything buy spending until you win everything.

Which is my feelings on the subject. There would have been corporate plans to cover probably every forseeable timescale, but the sort that would be of interest to the average supporter don't exist.

And that is why... other than to sheiks and oligarchs... football clubs are such a bad investment. Any other business can reasonably guarantee that good management will produce favourable returns. Unfortunately good management off field is no guarantee of good results on field in football.

[dave.woodhall]

I'm willing to bet there was on off field business plan. But while their may be targets that a club would like to achieve within a certain time frame on the field, I doubt any club has what any of us would class as a business plan for on field. Apart from maybe Man City which is to win everything buy spending until you win everything.

Which is my feelings on the subject. There would have been corporate plans to cover probably every forseeable timescale, but the sort that would be of interest to the average supporter don't exist.

And that is why... other than to sheiks and oligarchs... football clubs are such a bad investment. Any other business can reasonably guarantee that good management will produce favourable returns. Unfortunately good management off field is no guarantee of good results on field.

That and your assets risking never being able to work again every day. 

[KevinGage]

Silly season in full effect:


clicky

Spurs plan swoop for Aston Villa defender James Collins
Jan 8 2012 by Dean Jones, The People


SPURS are planning to challenge QPR for the signature of James Collins – should they miss out on No.1 target Chris Samba.

Aston Villa are willing to let central-defender Collins leave for offers more than £3million this month.

Rangers boss Neil Warnock has made the first move but Harry Redknapp’s club are keeping an eye on the situation.

Giant

Collins, 28, would welcome a move back to London, where he spent four years with West Ham.

[KevinGage]

Fits with Tottingham's policy of being linked with EVERY player who may be on the move at this time of the year, I suppose.

The same paper suggests Fulham are trying to get Huddlestone on loan. 
If he's available, that's one of their reserves/ fringe players I wouldn't actually mind seeing in c&b.

[kippaxvilla2]

Silly season in full effect:


clicky

Spurs plan swoop for Aston Villa defender James Collins
Jan 8 2012 by Dean Jones, The People


SPURS are planning to challenge QPR for the signature of James Collins – should they miss out on No.1 target Chris Samba.

Aston Villa are willing to let central-defender Collins leave for offers more than £3million this month.

Rangers boss Neil Warnock has made the first move but Harry Redknapp’s club are keeping an eye on the situation.

Giant

Collins, 28, would welcome a move back to London, where he spent four years with West Ham.

They bought in Friedel - suppose he was free.

[Dave]

They bought in Friedel - suppose he was free.

Friedel was still one of the best keepers in the league.

[kippaxvilla2]

I didn't think that Bent had been sulking and looking for a move.

The Andy Gray Column: Darren Bent's future, the Alex McLeish impact and Bobby Zamora link
Jan 8 2012 by Andy Gray, Sunday Mercury

 
TALK about England striker Darren Bent seeking a new challenge away from Villa Park in the January transfer window is not right in my opinion.

It has only been a year since Darren signed for big bucks from Sunderland and moved to Aston Villa, so I am sorry but no, he shouldn’t be thinking of going elsewhere – it’s insulting to the fans and the club.

My advice to Darren would be to just get on with it this season because he hasn’t been his usual prolific self and he owes Aston Villa more time and more goals – that’s for sure.

He signed a four-and-a-half-year deal to stay in the Midlands and Villa will undoubtedly be paying him a lot of money for his services – I think he must show his loyalty and his quality.

Just because things aren’t going completely your way at the moment that is no reason to start sulking and thinking about upping sticks.

He needs to keep his head up and help his team work their way through it and start scoring more goals, he needs to stop thinking about leaving.

The club has had a difficult season and it has not been helped by a lack of goals from Darren – he needs to work hard and help the club enjoy a positive finish to the campaign.

Villa need someone to step up to the plate in the striking department right now that is for sure and maybe adding Robbie Keane to the squad on loan from LA Galaxy in the short-term could help re-ignite the club – and Darren.

If Arsenal can loan-in Thierry Henry for January and February and Everton adopt a similar approach with Landon Donovan – why can’t Villa parachute in Keane from America to add some much needed attacking impetus and flair?

Alex McLeish needs to get in some people that can score some goals and Robbie clearly has that talent. You only have to look at his track record in the Premier League – he scores goals at this level.

I just hope Robbie has still got the hunger so we will have to wait and see as to what happens with that.

Alex is under a bit of pressure and has been from day one because of where he came from to take over at Villa.

Yes, he won the League Cup with Birmingham but he also got them relegated before he was offered the Villa job.

A lot of Villa fans couldn’t work that out but I hope he gets some success because I like Alex and I know him well.

He needs to win over the fans before they can even think about having success as a club. He can’t work unless everyone is pulling in the same direction and that’s why it’s crucial Darren starts scoring heavily and allows the fans to buy into the team again.

Every manager needs to spend money and craft their own team – and Alex is no different at Aston Villa. Will he get backing from Villa Park board in January financially? I don’t know, but I think he needs some help.

I think he’ll be looking at one or two players on permanent deals, outside of loaning Robbie.

There is talk of Fulham’s Bobby Zamora and I think he would be a really good signing for Villa.

He would be a nice combination with Darren, a good complement.

I think they need a bit of strength at the top end, they might need a bit of strength in midfield too but I think they’re okay at the back and in goal.

I think the middle of midfield and at the top end of the pitch are the areas where Alex would welcome some more bodies with quality.

I think Alex can be a little pragmatic but not negative, maybe just cautious, in the way he sets up teams sometimes.

But Villa fans look for a little bit more than that. They want more adventure from their team.

Villa fans are still getting to know Alex and he’s getting to know them – January could be crucial for the club though.

[Jimmy Smash]

Any Gray talks sense shock.

[Irish villain]

I'm sure you guys all heard McLeish deny Liverpool interest in Bent?

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/129794.html

[Legion]

Liverpool have just offered £25 million plus Andy Carroll for Darren Bent. Villa have rejected it, saying they only want the money.