Summer Transfer Thread: Speculation, Lies, Absolute Cr*p and Bosman Rumours

[Mazrim]

Karim El Ahamada signed a 3yr deal at Aston Villa from Feyenoord this am. SSN ......

Is that his Spanish cousin?

[tomd2103]

I'm not the biggest Rodallega fan but he would offer something very different and potentially dynamic off the bench or whenever he'd start. I get the impression he needs a change in his career and he'd be revitalised if he signed for us.

I agree that he would add something different to the options we already have and the fact that he would be on a free makes it that little bit more attractive.  I still think we are missing a target man up front though and I am not sure Rodallega is that type of player. 

[Mazrim]

We're being linked (tentatively from what I can tell but you never know) with Yacine Brahimi (Rennes). A young French u21 winger, playmaker with something of the look of Ashley Young about him.

Loan deal with purchase option apparently.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Karim El Ahamada signed a 3yr deal at Aston Villa from Feyenoord this am. SSN ......

Is that his Spanish cousin?

Think i got a bit excited about our first signing. ( Ahmadi ) for the record :-))

[Lowendbehold]

If we played like Spain we could sell all our strikers.

[N'ZMAV]

Gabby could get in that Spain team...

[DB]

Gabby could get in that Spain team...

I don't the Gabby bashing, he was poor last season...and? - tell me who did have a good season under McTwat? When Bent was fit he hardley set the world alight.

[Cenotaff]

Gabby could get in that Spain team...

I don't the Gabby bashing, he was poor last season...and? - tell me who did have a good season under McTwat? When Bent was fit he hardley set the world alight.

He was poor the season before last too. If he wasn't Villa through and through then he'd probably be getting a rougher deal.

[PeterWithesShin]

Gabby could get in that Spain team...

I don't the Gabby bashing, he was poor last season...and? - tell me who did have a good season under McTwat? When Bent was fit he hardley set the world alight.

Bent was pretty much on his career goals to games ratio.

[nigel]

I wonder if  PL would consider to risk a young back 4 in:
Lichaj, Clark, Baker and Stevens behind a strong, energetic and experienced midfield?

3 first have experience and Stevens looks pretty good in the reserves, although I admit that I haven't seen him play apart from on AVTV

[pauliewalnuts]

Gabby could get in that Spain team...

I don't the Gabby bashing, he was poor last season...and? - tell me who did have a good season under McTwat? When Bent was fit he hardley set the world alight.

I don't particularly want to pick Gabby out as a particular underperformer, but whilst you're right, hardly anyone came out of last season with any credit, Gabby over the last two years has failed to do anything like live up to his potential.

I also think there's something in the suggestion that he gets an easier time than others would because he's "one of us". That's inevitable, really.

Like all players, there has to be a limit to how long you're prepared to let a situation continue whereby you're paying someone 50k a week, and not getting very much back in return.

Lambert isn't a Villa fan, he's our manager, and he'll do what he thinks is best for the club, regardless of where the player in question is from. Given that, whilst I don't think Gabby will be shown the door this summer, I do think he's going to have to considerably up his game this season, or risk being out of it at the end.

[Toronto Villa]

I wonder if  PL would consider to risk a young back 4 in:
Lichaj, Clark, Baker and Stevens behind a strong, energetic and experienced midfield?

3 first have experience and Stevens looks pretty good in the reserves, although I admit that I haven't seen him play apart from on AVTV

That would be suicide. You need youth and experience. That defence even with a far superior coach than the last bloke would destroyed by better teams.

[Chipsticks]

I wonder if  PL would consider to risk a young back 4 in:
Lichaj, Clark, Baker and Stevens behind a strong, energetic and experienced midfield?

3 first have experience and Stevens looks pretty good in the reserves, although I admit that I haven't seen him play apart from on AVTV

We'd get absolutely destroyed.

[Concrete John]

We've learnt under Houllier that playing all the kids at once is  abad idea.  Clark with an experienced partner is the way forward, IMO.

[tomd2103]

I wonder if  PL would consider to risk a young back 4 in:
Lichaj, Clark, Baker and Stevens behind a strong, energetic and experienced midfield?

3 first have experience and Stevens looks pretty good in the reserves, although I admit that I haven't seen him play apart from on AVTV

That would be suicide. You need youth and experience. That defence even with a far superior coach than the last bloke would destroyed by better teams.

That back four looks particularly weak.  Out of those four, Clark is the only one I can see stepping up and making a real impact in the immediate future.  Although I would look to move one of them on this summer, I still think that Collins and Dunne might get their act together under Lambert and play an important part this coming season.