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

[Concrete John]

Holman may play off the front, but I would bet a large amount on us signing a striker this summer. Managers like to have their own centre forward, almost like marking out their territory.

I just can't see anybody new we get being any better than Bent, so if he wants off only then would it make any sense.

[pedro25]

Bent, Gabby and Weimann for one position is plenty, certainly not a priority position.

[TheSandman]

I don't think, with fans views being what they are, the club would even countenance selling Gabby. For many he's a cult figure and the reaction to selling him would be negative in the extreme and with things as negative as they are they wouldn't want to risk losing even more supporters.

Gabby has always played in fits and starts and that is why I've never rated him as highly as some do or criticised him as much as others have. His inconsistency is what stops  him being a top class player and why I rate Bent much more highly. This season has been odd though. He played better than ever up until Novermber/December and has now embarked on a bad run longer and deeper than usual. I just wish McLeish had the sense to drop him as at times in the last few months he has been as good as a man short. There might be some mileage in the thesis that McLeish kills strikers form though so maybe I'm being harsh on Gabbs.

[Mazrim]

I agree with a lot of the criticism of McLeish but I just don't see how he "kills strikers".
Which wonder weapons did Blose have that he killed, Cameron Jerome? Zigic? Hmmm.

His tactics are negative and strikers probably have less to thrive on, sure. But he doesn't physically go on the pitch and hold them back when they should be running into space, getting on the shoulder of defenders they're twice as quick as and spooning their shots for throw ins. Like I said, sometimes a player has to get his own shit together. Gabby is one of those now, much as I love him.

[ozzjim]

Holman may play off the front, but I would bet a large amount on us signing a striker this summer. Managers like to have their own centre forward, almost like marking out their territory.

I just can't see anybody new we get being any better than Bent, so if he wants off only then would it make any sense.

I agree, although Bent has been woefully mis used by McLeish to be fair, and still scored a decent amount of goals, which is testament to him. I think the way he is bigging up the Weimann Gabby partnership I reckon Bent will be sold whatever happens this summer, with a bigger target man and maybe Keane coming in to replace him. If we got 15 for Bent and replaced him with Keane and Burnt Toast, would we be better off.

[dave.woodhall]

Jermaine Beckford wasn't that bad t Everton 10 goal in 38 games, don't remember him starting that much either.

I thought the speed with which Everton got shot of him was very fishy indeed. I wonder if there was something afoot off-pitch?

He's been outed by Leicester pretty quickly too....

Well if he's a homosexual then thats as good a reason as any why not to sign him.

Must you come out with such dated, homophobic, nonsense?

[Vanilla]

I agree with a lot of the criticism of McLeish but I just don't see how he "kills strikers".
Which wonder weapons did Blose have that he killed, Cameron Jerome? Zigic? Hmmm.

His tactics are negative and strikers probably have less to thrive on, sure. But he doesn't physically go on the pitch and hold them back when they should be running into space, getting on the shoulder of defenders they're twice as quick as and spooning their shots for throw ins. Like I said, sometimes a player has to get his own shit together. Gabby is one of those now, much as I love him.

Fair enough, but you must have saw Gabby's reaction when the ball was punted up field and he tried to challenge for it, then on turning around realising he needed binoculars to see another Villa player. 

[Mazrim]

Yes, I know. It's lame.
There were no speedy players to help him out.

[Irish villain]

Over the past two years we have lost some £60m worth of suppliers to our forwards (Milner, Young, Downing). Maybe that's why Gabby ain't himself, you know?

Speaking in broad brush strokes, we have Bent and Gabby where we used to have Gabby and Carew but we're scoring less goals. But we have Ireland, Bannan, Herd, Albrighton/N'Zogbia or some such combination where we used to have Milner, Barry/Downing, Young. I'm not slating out present midfield, just pointing out that we had one of the best mid-fields in the Premier League whereas now we are depending on two or three hot prospects who are far from the finished article and two players whoa re known to be moody and somewhat prone to inconsistency.

The decimation of our midfield is the reason we have become also rans and so midfield should be our priority. Hence my wishful thinking on Dempsey being a prime example of what we need.

[barrysleftfoot]

  Gabby?........was shit under GH, has'nt scored in 15 games, has played down the middle for most of those games, his best game this season was Norwich at home when he played on the left.

  Would i sell, only if an offer of £10m+ come in, but where do you play him.Would you drop Bent when he is fit?

 I was a massive fan of Gabby, but for me he has gone backwards.Is it McL? don't see how it can be , other players like Ireland seemed to have come on, maybe , just maybe Gabby is'nt as good as some of us think/hope.

[barrysleftfoot]

  Have to say by the way, every time i see Jordan Mutch, i think what a good player.

[ozzjim]

Mutch and Redmond would get into our side at the moment. Both excellent.

[Tom wintle]

I'd be happy with a couple of new players.     I want bent out imagine we could get players for half the price like cisse at Newcastle is twice the player bent is.

[SoccerHQ]

Bent was signed at the wrong time (well right time to keep us up but we were in decline as a team).

He would've been brilliant in an MON team with crosses flying in every 5 minutes. Probably the difference between us not getting into the top 4 in that time especially in 09/10 when we actually had a good defensive set up.

[The Left Side]

Bent was signed at the wrong time (well right time to keep us up but we were in decline as a team).

He would've been brilliant in an MON team with crosses flying in every 5 minutes. Probably the difference between us not getting into the top 4 in that time especially in 09/10 when we actually had a good defensive set up.

Imagine us buying Bent instead of Heskey, what a team we could have had!