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

[Holte L2]

Jordan rhodes would be an interesting gamble- maybe worthwhile though, he seems a natural finisher but then again so did guy whittingham!

I think we need some more experience to take the pressure of Bent. I like Rhodes but i'd edge my bets that Weimann is just as good at the level he's been scoring at.

[Holte L2]

I heard on Talkshite that they've slapped a £6m price tag on his head, and apparently Blackburn have offered a deal worth £6m this weekend...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/blackburn-set-to-make-final-6m-1220048

It would be a gamble and I would have said lets see how he gets on in the Championship first, but if it means getting a young potentially prolific English goalscorer at a decent price then now is probably the best time to take that gamble.

If we're going for that level, i think Charlie Austin's just as good, if not better. You'd probably get him for 3-4 million. If we want to push on, I think at need a gem like Berbatov or something abroad.

[Nastylee]

Is this Football Manager or supposed to be a thread based on real life?

[KRS]

If we want to push on, I think at need a gem like Berbatov or something abroad.

No doubt Berbatov is a good technical player but can be lazy and frustrating...for a similar transfer fee, I'd rather we continue to invest in youth and go for Rhodes who we can develop over a number of years.

[Holte L2]

If we want to push on, I think at need a gem like Berbatov or something abroad.

No doubt Berbatov is a good technical player but can be lazy and frustrating...for a similar transfer fee, I'd rather we continue to invest in you and go for Rhodes who we can develop over a number of years.

But we already have that. Right now, we need a striker to take the pressure off Bent and. Is capable of linking the midfield with the attack.

[rutski]

gone to fulham

[Mister E]

gone to fulham

Great - what are you doing there? Have fun.

[PeterWithesShin]

Sticking this in here as it's not worth it's own thread.

Paul Lambert is ready to embrace Aston Villa's glorious past as he hopes to bring success back to the Midlands club.

Lambert replaced Alex McLeish at Villa Park at the end of last season after doing an impressive job with Norwich - winning two promotions and keeping the Canaries in the Premier League.

But the 42-year-old Scot has traded Carrow Road for the former champions of Europe and has already brought in Ron Vlaar, Karim El Ahmadi and Matt Lowton as he rebuilds the side.

He accepts it will be a challenge to deal with the weight of expectation at Villa but it's one he is relishing.

"Aston Villa are a big club with a massive support," O'Neill told Scotland's Sunday Mail.

"They expect to be successful and to be winning - and they are quite right to think like that. It's up to me to make that a reality and I will give it my best.

"But I have always said the game is about the players - and I'll never change my opinion. Ultimately, they win or lose games. It's as simple as that.

"I take great care about the type of player I sign. They have to have the right characteristics, be confident and must be able to fit in.

"I have inherited some good players and have added quality. The names of my new signings might not roll off the tongue but I believe in them.

"They know what we are trying to do here and think they'll be able to help.

"I'm aware of the standards of Aston Villa and I'm aware of the history.

"The memory of winning the [European] Cup in 1982 is something we should embrace and respect. Players such as With, Allan Evans, Dennis Mortimer, Gordon Cowans and Gary Shaw are legends.

"I'm not scared of memories. It gives us something to aim for, although we must be realistic.

"I watched the final on TV and it was an incredible result. Bayern had Paul Breitner, Klaus Augenthaler and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
"Villa lost Jimmy Rimmer early on and had to put a young Nigel Spink in goals. It was a brilliant feat. Phenomenal.

"We still have the 1982 Lounge at the stadium - and rightly so."

Villa have struggled to reach those same heights in recent years, although former boss Martin O'Neilldid guide the claret and blue outfit to three consecutive top-six finishes.

Lambert believes that is a realistic target and cannot wait to get started.

"This club had a fantastic period under O'Neill," he added. "They were consistently in the top six and qualified for Europe.

"Unfortunately, the past two years have been a barren spell. I'm here to try and change that. I did it at Norwich.

"This is a great club to work for and a big opportunity for me. In terms of finance, I know exactly what the club can do. Listen, it's not all about cash. That's never my outlook.

"What I do know is it will be an exciting season and I'm pleased to be part of it all. Last season was my first in the Premier League. This one can't come quickly enough."

[luke25]

Sticking this in here as it's not worth it's own thread.

Paul Lambert is ready to embrace Aston Villa's glorious past as he hopes to bring success back to the Midlands club.

Lambert replaced Alex McLeish at Villa Park at the end of last season after doing an impressive job with Norwich - winning two promotions and keeping the Canaries in the Premier League.

But the 42-year-old Scot has traded Carrow Road for the former champions of Europe and has already brought in Ron Vlaar, Karim El Ahmadi and Matt Lowton as he rebuilds the side.

He accepts it will be a challenge to deal with the weight of expectation at Villa but it's one he is relishing.

"Aston Villa are a big club with a massive support," O'Neill told Scotland's Sunday Mail.

"They expect to be successful and to be winning - and they are quite right to think like that. It's up to me to make that a reality and I will give it my best.

"But I have always said the game is about the players - and I'll never change my opinion. Ultimately, they win or lose games. It's as simple as that.

"I take great care about the type of player I sign. They have to have the right characteristics, be confident and must be able to fit in.

"I have inherited some good players and have added quality. The names of my new signings might not roll off the tongue but I believe in them.

"They know what we are trying to do here and think they'll be able to help.

"I'm aware of the standards of Aston Villa and I'm aware of the history.

"The memory of winning the [European] Cup in 1982 is something we should embrace and respect. Players such as With, Allan Evans, Dennis Mortimer, Gordon Cowans and Gary Shaw are legends.

"I'm not scared of memories. It gives us something to aim for, although we must be realistic.

"I watched the final on TV and it was an incredible result. Bayern had Paul Breitner, Klaus Augenthaler and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
"Villa lost Jimmy Rimmer early on and had to put a young Nigel Spink in goals. It was a brilliant feat. Phenomenal.

"We still have the 1982 Lounge at the stadium - and rightly so."

Villa have struggled to reach those same heights in recent years, although former boss Martin O'Neilldid guide the claret and blue outfit to three consecutive top-six finishes.

Lambert believes that is a realistic target and cannot wait to get started.

"This club had a fantastic period under O'Neill," he added. "They were consistently in the top six and qualified for Europe.

"Unfortunately, the past two years have been a barren spell. I'm here to try and change that. I did it at Norwich.

"This is a great club to work for and a big opportunity for me. In terms of finance, I know exactly what the club can do. Listen, it's not all about cash. That's never my outlook.

"What I do know is it will be an exciting season and I'm pleased to be part of it all. Last season was my first in the Premier League. This one can't come quickly enough."

So thats what MON said, what did Lambert say?

[Dave]

"Aston Villa are a big club with a massive support," O'Neill told Scotland's Sunday Mail.

Two years later and we're still MartinoNeillsAstonVilla.

[itbrvilla]

"Aston Villa are a big club with a massive support," O'Neill told Scotland's Sunday Mail.

Can't even get his name right!

[rutski]

gone to fulham

Great - what are you doing there? Have fun.

sorry, thought this was after the question about rodallega. good reply though lol

[PeterWithesShin]

Sky Sports, always 100% on the money.

[Dave]

I agree. Surely Delfouneso has had enough chances now. He's not going to make the grade in the PL.

Again, he is twenty one years old.

Ditching someone of that age just because he hasn't yet shown that he is going to be on the best strikers in the league would be ridiculous.

[OCD]

One mistake and it completely skews the whole article. Totally confusing bit of writing.