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

[N'ZMAV]

I'd take Carroll for £20mil. He'd be excellent with a poacher along side him. Aslong as we utilise him properly, facing the goal, we wpuldn't want to do a MON and turn him into Heskey II.

[UK Redsox]

Carroll and Bent could work very well together. Carroll wins everything in the air and Bent would anticipate his knock downs better than most. I also think Carroll has better appreciation of his surroundings than he's given credit for. At Newcastle he had touch and awareness that seems to desert him at Liverpool but I just think that's down to him not settling there and feeling pressure.
Unfortunately I think he'll stay there and do well. But I'd like to think we could go for him if they are thinking of getting rid.

The two things we lack up front is a powerhouse and a magician. I think we need one or the other if not both. And both would suit Bent, the archetypal poacher.

Carroll & Bent could be the second coming of Toshack & Keegan

[N'ZMAV]

Or Quinn and Phillips

[supertom]

Or Quinn and Phillips

Or Dublin and Joachim. Ha ha.

[Concrete John]

The modern game has most teams playing 1 striker, which means 5 midfielders of varying attacking intent.  So, we'd be sticking 4 in aginast 5 most games, as the only way Bent and Carroll could work is in a 4-4-2.  The Norwich model from last season is a good example, but let's not forget they had defensive difficulties, which were probably contributed to by how they structered their midfield and strikers.  So they may well work as an old style strike partnership, but would we be able to retain the ball well enough in a 4v5 midfield battle to get it to them often enough to make that count?  I have my doubts.   

We relatively recently had issues with playing Carew and Gabby upfront, especially with breaking sides down.  And found a sort of answer when Big John was injured and we had to play Gabby up top in a 4-5-1.

[Mazrim]

By the way, I wouldn't worry about Liverpool sniffing after Bent. By all accounts they couldn't afford him.
They gambled a lot of their money last season and have to rein it in a bit. Their owners aren't that wealthy or prepared to do it again.
They've brought Rodgers in to get the most out of their existing squad, which is fair enough.

With that in mind I wouldn't be suprised if they did cash in on a couple including Carroll, to give Rodgers more spending power.
Maybe a loan with a future fee deal could happen, you never know. But I wouldn't expect it.
Perhaps resurrecting a deal for Luuk de Jong is more likely. Or getting Lukaku on loan with a fee agreed.

[N'ZMAV]

We will need to play with 3 centre midfielders to get any sucess this season. with 2 wide players and 1 striker. One of the 3 in the middle of the park, probably Ireland getting forward and supporting the forward. 2 in the middle of the park these days seem to get over run. Unless they are both very deep and dictating the play, like Scholes and Carrick did.

[PaulWinch again]

The modern game has most teams playing 1 striker, which means 5 midfielders of varying attacking intent.  So, we'd be sticking 4 in aginast 5 most games, as the only way Bent and Carroll could work is in a 4-4-2.  The Norwich model from last season is a good example, but let's not forget they had defensive difficulties, which were probably contributed to by how they structered their midfield and strikers.  So they may well work as an old style strike partnership, but would we be able to retain the ball well enough in a 4v5 midfield battle to get it to them often enough to make that count?  I have my doubts.   

We relatively recently had issues with playing Carew and Gabby upfront, especially with breaking sides down.  And found a sort of answer when Big John was injured and we had to play Gabby up top in a 4-5-1.

Indeed the lone front man with support from the midfield is the best way to succeed in the game today.

[supertom]

I would have thought watching England play was enough evidence that 4-4-2 is a dead system at the top level.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Looking at our squad and some of the players we're being linked with and supposed to be trying to move on, I think we're after the following positions:-

CB - Maybe Ramis?
LB - Bertrand looks unlikely
WG - Brahimi?
CF - A big bloke

[Phil from the upper holte]

Are we actually in for Caroll or is this just wishes?

[Dr Butler]

saw a rumour on arsebook that the Villa have agreed a fee for J.Collins with Wigan and Blackburn, hope this is true

UTV
The Doc

[Phil from the upper holte]

Setanta are linking Villa to Rennes midfielder Tongo Doumbia.

His agent has confirmed that he is talks to move to the Premier League and Villa are thought to be interested. Either that or the agent is trying to talk up a move for his player?

Tongo told Le 10 Sport: 'My agent is taking care of that - it is nice but a transfer requires all parties agreeing to it and now we are talking with Rennes. And this is not that I don't want to play with Rennes but this is the Premier League, it is a league that really attracts me. I think I have a playing style suited to the Premier League."



Read more: http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7512805#ixzz20D9jCRcv

[N'ZMAV]

Can we swap James Collins for Scott Dann? Please?....

Ok, Dann didn't have a good season last time out, but not many did at Blackburn. He's a good defender.

[Concrete John]

Anyone know anything about this Tongo Doumbia, other than that FM stuff?  Is he a defensive or attacking midfielder?  It says on wikipedia he's 6 ft 3 in, so that would suggest to be a strong central player.

Might, if true, be the end on Makoun with him going to Rennes in part exchange?