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

[PaulWinch again]

I think Ireland, in every game since Chelsea that I have seen and he has played, has been exceptional. I would also bet a large amount that had we got Bent fit, and played Ireland behind him, Bent would have scored a lot of goals in the run in. Look at the way Ireland has slipped in Weimann, Heskey and even Gabby in the last few weeks. Truth is Bent is 100 times more likely to stick those away.

My biggest fear is Liverpool do come in, offer 15million for Bent, we bit with Eck claiming we need the cash to rebuild, and then we are left relying on Gabby to score the goals, which he won't.

To be frank I don't think the personnel matter, if Mcleish is in charge we'll go down.

[ozzjim]

I don't think so Paul. Short of selling Bent, which I admit is possible, I can't see how we could be weaker next season, even with the clown in charge. The thing is, he has to buy a foil for Bent that is not Gabby, ideally for me Stevie Ireland can do that, but does pick up a lot of injuries. Maybe Das Bost is the way forward, I have never seen the lad play, but if we can get someone like that, and a couple of young, fearless wingers like Phillips and Zaha. I just think we need to get more variety and if McLeish is still here, alot more pace. Maybe Holman can play the role behind Bent that Ireland is playing actually, I forget him. I would sacrifice Gabby if offered anything over 8 million, trying to shoe horn him into our side is actually hampering us shape wise IMO.

[Toronto Villa]

The problem isn't as much the players as it is the fact they have no idea how to win games anymore. We've surrendered a lot of points from winning positions, and drawing games has become a habit. For the players it almost feels good that they didn't lose. We have no confidence that we will keep a lead when taking the lead, so our players do everything they can not to concede yet always do. We don't have any killer instinct at the club and that stems from the manager. He's a nice bloke, just not aggressive. I want a manager who says "fuck reputation" every time we step on the pitch. Or at the very least says, "we are Villa, and we're going all out to beat this lot". While we might take a kicking now and again, we'll also give out our fair share too, and we will have a go every single game. If nothing else, this season has taught us that anyone at any time can be beaten. We must be the only team in the division where that rule doesn't apply because we don't try to win every game.

[dave.woodhall]

And when we did try, we beat the team who could end up European champions. That's the most annoying thing of all.

[Toronto Villa]

And when we did try, we beat the team who could end up European champions. That's the most annoying thing of all.

that is precisely what has been the most frustrating thing about the whole season. I honestly believe that with the right attitude going into every game every player would feel a foot taller. That would only make Barry Bannan 5ft 2" off course! Instead, the intent to win games has simply not been there and week after week, little by little the confidence and belief of the players, especially in their own ability has been stripped away. This is a good squad. Does it need improving? Absolutely. But given the right attitude, a strong willed manager who himself is confident and aggressive the current squad would be nowhere near the foot of the table. It all starts at the top, and when players show up to work on Monday, you know they aren't really looking forward to the week ahead, and it ultimately shows when they play games.

[JUAN PABLO]

Wait for KKK to offer Spearing and Shelvey and 10 million for Bent.   

Cheeky scouse f***   .     

[Clampy]

Wait for KKK to offer Spearing and Shelvey and 10 million for Bent.   

Cheeky scouse f***   .     

It would probably be accepted.

[Toronto Villa]

Wait for KKK to offer Spearing and Shelvey and 10 million for Bent.   

Cheeky scouse f***   .     

It would probably be accepted.

why? As much as it pains me to say it we've got good money for the players we've sold. That's one stick that you cannot beat the board with even if you want to beat them for actually selling our best players. We got 20 big ones from them for Downing, and had Sunderland not raped them for the same amount for Henderson, the Downing deal would be one of the sales of the century.

[Hoppo]

Toronto you have summed it up perfectly. Bannan has been terribly misused this season.

[dave.woodhall]

Wait for KKK to offer Spearing and Shelvey and 10 million for Bent.   

Cheeky scouse f***   .     

It would probably be accepted.

why? As much as it pains me to say it we've got good money for the players we've sold. That's one stick that you cannot beat the board with even if you want to beat them for actually selling our best players. We got 20 big ones from them for Downing, and had Sunderland not raped them for the same amount for Henderson, the Downing deal would be one of the sales of the century.

And although in hindsight it wasn't too clever the £28 million for Milner was generally reckoned to be a good deal.

[Clampy]

Wait for KKK to offer Spearing and Shelvey and 10 million for Bent.   

Cheeky scouse f***   .     

It would probably be accepted.

why? As much as it pains me to say it we've got good money for the players we've sold. That's one stick that you cannot beat the board with even if you want to beat them for actually selling our best players. We got 20 big ones from them for Downing, and had Sunderland not raped them for the same amount for Henderson, the Downing deal would be one of the sales of the century.

No you're right, it would'nt be accepted. To the board's credit getting £20m for Downing was good business. It's a shame it was'nt properly re-invested but that's another argument.

[Irish villain]

Wait for KKK to offer Spearing and Shelvey and 10 million for Bent.   

Cheeky scouse f***   .     

It would probably be accepted.

why? As much as it pains me to say it we've got good money for the players we've sold. That's one stick that you cannot beat the board with even if you want to beat them for actually selling our best players. We got 20 big ones from them for Downing, and had Sunderland not raped them for the same amount for Henderson, the Downing deal would be one of the sales of the century.

And although in hindsight it wasn't too clever the £28 million for Milner was generally reckoned to be a good deal.

Two years ago we had Milner, Downing and Young in our midfield. We haven't really replaced them (Much as I dislike Downing, he did play well for us and his performances in a villa shirt attracted attention). Ireland is the only newcomer since then that you could be remotely happy with but he's no James Milner. N'Zogbia really needs to up his game and Albrighton, if we're honest, is nowhere near the quality we had in Young and Downing.

[dave.woodhall]

Wait for KKK to offer Spearing and Shelvey and 10 million for Bent.   

Cheeky scouse f***   .     

It would probably be accepted.

why? As much as it pains me to say it we've got good money for the players we've sold. That's one stick that you cannot beat the board with even if you want to beat them for actually selling our best players. We got 20 big ones from them for Downing, and had Sunderland not raped them for the same amount for Henderson, the Downing deal would be one of the sales of the century.

And although in hindsight it wasn't too clever the £28 million for Milner was generally reckoned to be a good deal.

Two years ago we had Milner, Downing and Young in our midfield. We haven't really replaced them (Much as I dislike Downing, he did play well for us and his performances in a villa shirt attracted attention). Ireland is the only newcomer since then that you could be remotely happy with but he's no James Milner. N'Zogbia really needs to up his game and Albrighton, if we're honest, is nowhere near the quality we had in Young and Downing.

I'm not saying we were right to sell them, or that they haven't been replaced adequately. The point is that we got top dollar for all three.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Bannan has been terribly misused this season.

Bannan has been his own worst enemy this season. You can make all the excuses you want for him but generally he's let himself down on the pitch, the Scotland call up really seems to have gone to his head. He has the talent but until he learns that not every pass has to be a minimum of 40 yards, the lad is a waste of space. Of all our 'kids', he's been the biggest let down this season.

[Toronto Villa]

N'Zogbia is a confidence player and when he's up for it, he's superb. See how he almost single handedly dragged Wigan out of the mire last season because he had a manager that believed in him and made him feel incredible. Some players are like that. Mcleish has stripped the confidence out of every player and when you do that to players that lack it to beging with, or at least need reassurance more frequently their games goes to shit. Yesterday was clear evidence of that. Last years N'Zogbia would have skinned the full back and would have taken shots from all over the place. This seasons N'Zogbia is so lost he trips over the ball and makes horrific decisions.