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

[Mazrim]

From what I've seen of Rhodes he is powerful and a poacher. A Dean Ashton type of player.
iI'd be happy if we got Lukaku on loan though. He really could be something special despite a very ordinary first season at Chelsea.
It would be better to get some sort of buyout clause built in but... well, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself there.

Essentially there are two types of forward/striker we lack. The magician string puller type and the powerhouse type.
We have the missile and the poacher and the poachers understudy.

I expect Lambert to be after one or both.

[tomd2103]

I assume we have little chance cos of QPR with the Hughes and London connection, but I'd like us to go for Danny Murphy.

I know, I know. It's completely the opposite of what we're mostly looking at. But he's a leader, captain and would be an ideal replacement for Stan.

I was thinking the same when I read about him being out of contract at Fulham this summer.  Just bring him in for one or two seasons to give that bit of experience and leadership through what will be a fairly transitional period.  Despite his age, it could be a decent move.

[tomd2103]

A decent rb and lb is a must,especially if they're good going forward,as it would allow us to be flexible,play a diamond,narrow midfield without wingers when needed.

Selassie from Czech would be perfect,others surely have an eye on him though.

Kyle Naughton is exactly that type of player.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Sturridge is a nose, I know someone that know's him well

[tomd2103]

I'm sure a good link man could get Bent and Gabby working as a front 2. But I wouldnt be suprised if we went after an up and coming powerful striker like Jordan Rhodes or Lukaku on loan or maybe Sturridge. Did DiMatteo play him much? Without checking I dont think he did or at least I think his chances will be more limited next season. He'd be a star here. He may fancy that.

Gabby and Sturridge either side of Bent sounds like a good idea to me. And behind them Ireland (or Holman) pulling the strings, a box to box workhorse (Frimpong) and a defensive powerhouse midfielder (Moussa Sissoko).

 Those and I'd be ecstatic. Although dont think Sturridge's ego would let him drop down to a team like us (Villa fan or not). Would also prefer to purchase Rhodes rather than loaning Lukaku.

 Was going to ask what kind of striker is Rhodes? Is he a big powerhouse of a striker than as opposed to a smaller poacher like Defoe for example?

From what I have seen of him, he is a similiar player to Bent.  Not anything particularly special outside the box, but a natural finisher inside it.

[PaulTheVillan]

Frimpong was a machine against us for Wolves. Totally bossed the game, glad he went off injured.

[Surrey Villain]

I think it's more a case of who we can reasonably expect to find buyers for.

We could even find ourselves going into the season with all of Dunne, Collins, Warnock and Hutton still on the books given the wages they are currently on.

Unless we come up with Sidwellesque deals and all but pay for them to go elsewhere we may well be stuck with them. It is unlikely all of them will leave this summer.

The priority to me is offloading Hutton; he is the one we are stuck with for the longest.

With the exception of Bent (and obviously Petrov), I'd listen to offers for any of our senior professionals and take it from there. I'm not sure if we are practically in a position to choose who we care to replace, it's going to be more a question of opportunity if and when it arises.

In the mean time we do have areas where we are very light in numbers/experience - mainly central midfield but also up front. That is where the immediate focus should be.
 

If we sign 2 players this summer it has to be a left back and right back.  We have 2 who were barely championship standard last season, going into a new season with those 2 starting is asking for a relegation battle.  3rd player is a central midfielder.

Everybody seems to have written off Lichaj.

[hartman_1982]

Sturridge is a nose, I know someone that know's him well

He's Villa. If you get chance to read the Chelsea away programme then you should. It's the only reson I realistically think we have a chance of signing him.

[N'ZMAV]

Frimpong was a machine against us for Wolves. Totally bossed the game, glad he went off injured.

Frimpong can go right to the top, workhorse and technical. Shame he's a bit of a prick and has a big gob.

[N'ZMAV]

I like Sturridge. But I get the impression he could be a bad apple.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I know Sturridge got all my mates blues fan mates tickets for the chelsea v blues game at the bridge, I heard he was defo blues, maybe he's not as bad as I thought

[Phil from the upper holte]

N'Zmav I get the impression that he's frustrated at Chelsea, I don't think he's that bad he's a good player but Torres is always ahead of him

[Mazrim]

Sturridge is definitely a Villa fan. I watched him at a soccer school at Villa that my mates lad was also at. He stood out as absolute class and was wearing a Villa shirt. All his family are Villa too.

Not that I think it would weigh in with any decision on his future but you never know.
He's not beyond us if he's not getting a game at Chelsea. Darren Bent is a higher profile player and we got him.

[paul_e]

I think it's more a case of who we can reasonably expect to find buyers for.

We could even find ourselves going into the season with all of Dunne, Collins, Warnock and Hutton still on the books given the wages they are currently on.

Unless we come up with Sidwellesque deals and all but pay for them to go elsewhere we may well be stuck with them. It is unlikely all of them will leave this summer.

The priority to me is offloading Hutton; he is the one we are stuck with for the longest.

With the exception of Bent (and obviously Petrov), I'd listen to offers for any of our senior professionals and take it from there. I'm not sure if we are practically in a position to choose who we care to replace, it's going to be more a question of opportunity if and when it arises.

In the mean time we do have areas where we are very light in numbers/experience - mainly central midfield but also up front. That is where the immediate focus should be.
 

If we sign 2 players this summer it has to be a left back and right back.  We have 2 who were barely championship standard last season, going into a new season with those 2 starting is asking for a relegation battle.  3rd player is a central midfielder.

Everybody seems to have written off Lichaj.

Not written off at all but needs competition in both spots, the problem is he's the only decent full back we have (the irish lad may come good but needs a year around the squad to see if he's got it) so we need to sign 2 good ones to even give us a chance of fielding a good pair most of the time.  Naughton would be a great start, good going forward, solid defensively and, like lichaj, can play either side.

Seeing as someone mentioned a player from the euro's I'm going to throw my 2p in and say we should go for the ukraine left winger (Konoplyanka), not high profile enough to have a silly cost but he's quick, he can cut in or go round the outside and is comfortable on either foot, has a good touch, a good eye for a pass and did a good job of finding space for himself in all 3 games.

For me he's been the best 'unknown' I've seen in the tournament.  I think he's very highly rated in the ukraine though.

[garyshawsknee]

Good shout Paul,he's impressed me the other night.