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

[The Situation]

Wow at that article. It just reinforces with what randy is doing. I'm actually really scared if we don't do anything in the transfer window before it shuts because it will feel like another season of doom and gloom is coming... It's even more sad that our owner won't prevent this from happening as if it doesn't matter. Not even overreacting here, our squad is poor. We're playing with young players who were reserve fringe players just 2 years ago... And its not like you can say they've made the required step up to be starting for the team through merit, they're starting because of the cutbacks and not replacing sold players. They've got some experience but maybe not the right kind of experience.. because they still look inexperienced (if that makes any sense lol). Last season really did make us go from one step forward to two steps back.

It's really telling when you see teams like Norwich, Southampton, Swansea being proactive in this transfer window knowing how important it is to strengthen yet we don't realize this thinking we can get away with it with our current squad.

I felt so positive after Lambert was appointed, now with what's happening off field I feel so down. Still feel happy to have Lambert as manager, but still wary and concerned with the future and where we are going.

[N'Zimidy]

You're overreacting if you think we're going to be in any danger. There's still plenty of time to bring a couple more players in. Let's see, we probably need a left-back, striker, winger and a central defender. Well we're in luck because we have Gabby, Albrighton and Dunne to come back in shortly. That just leaves left-back. bring in somebody like Cresswell for £5m and bobs your uncle we're sorted.

In all seriousness though the squad only need one or two players to be comfortably mid-table. There have only been two matches with a new style, new players and new manager for goodness sake. We said it was a transition period and the changes have been extremely positive and clear to see. But it will take time for the results to come. We have played two of the most well organised teams in the league in West Ham and Everton. Both know how to be physical and fight out results.

Now if we were without a win after 6 games, I would be worrying. But after two? Let's keep it together chaps.

[KRS]

The other way of looking at it is...do you really think having Gabby, Albrighton and Dunne back in the team would have created more chances on goal or prevented any of the 4 goals we've conceded so far? and are they influential enough to change our fortunes for the rest of the season without additional signings to improve the quality of the squad throughout the team?

[Toronto Villa]

Here's what I don't get in all of the doomsday scenario articles. If Randy is secretly fucking us all, and letting everything go to hell as is being suggested, then why fire McLeish? He could have just kept him on, given him scraps to work with and sure enough we'd be as good as gone. For a man so intent on burying us, he's spent a lot of his own money trying to get the manager right, even if it hasn't worked out. In fact, if that's his aim, why give McLeish any money at all last summer, or indeed allow Lambert anything now? I accept Randy's made decisions that have been poor and a number that he really regrets. But I'm not going to buy this theory that he is out to sink the club.

[mattjpa]

Here's what I don't get in all of the doomsday scenario articles. If Randy is secretly fucking us all, and letting everything go to hell as is being suggested, then why fire McLeish? He could have just kept him on, given him scraps to work with and sure enough we'd be as good as gone. For a man so intent on burying us, he's spent a lot of his own money trying to get the manager right, even if it hasn't worked out. In fact, if that's his aim, why give McLeish any money at all last summer, or indeed allow Lambert anything now? I accept Randy's made decisions that have been poor and a number that he really regrets. But I'm not going to buy this theory that he is out to sink the club.

Unfortunately, we as football fans know a lot less than we think. To the man, villa fans thought the problems lay at the feet of mcleish and we can try and pretend it had nothing to do with the blues but it did. Not once did I head a chant for him. Now, in hindsight, it would appear eck was probably doing as well as could be expected with this lot. The atmosphere at the Bolton game was poisonous and there is no way back from that, no way of winning over the fans with that level of hatred aimed at you. Randy was there and saw that, how sellable would avfc have been this year with an average attendance of say 15k, 4k season ticket holders, say 3k shirts sold and a manager needing to be paid off as soon as the new owners came in. Not as sellable as a young team playing well for a young manager in front of a full house and needing a bit of investment. The only problem is that randy has called it wrong again and over estimated how good these lads are and now knows he's stripped the team back too far....

[Steve R]

That article is a raggy piece of misinformation - very unfair on Lerner, and on Ellis for that matter.

I don't doubt that we need to be wary of relegation, and that we do need some additions to avoid an arse-clenching season. We certainly were a distant second best to Everton.  But some of the emotive narrative is absolute tosh.

[Rigadon]

The article is tub thumping hyperbole.  However, we are in the shit currently and Lerner needs to buy some players or we are at risk of struggling like last season.  I think the indications are that we will be buying in the coming week. I wouldn't be surprised to see Andy Carroll here by the end of the week as they still owe us money fro the downing sale.  Actually, maybe they're trying to give us Downing back?  Pure speculation in the speculation thread!

[Matt Collins]

That article is hyperbolic. I thought it was written by a disillusioned fan when I started reading it

That being said, a couple if well placed signings could make a fundamental difference to our season. There's no doubt that unless lambert can work some magic, we'll struggle. We've struggled for two consecutive years and its hard to argue the squad is any better than in those years. We normally pull ourselves around after one year of struggle, so it would be desperate to have three consecutive relegation scraps. But remember that after desperate seasons under GT and later DOL, it took until after Xmas for DOL and then MON to make their mark on a side.

I'm fairly convinced lambert does have it in him to sprinkle some of that magic on the side. But I expect there to be some more fairly brutal lessons - he won't be afraid to try things whereas mcleish was. And I expect some players to be unceremoniously dumped. I genuinely think it's too early to say who. But it wouldn't be a surprise if they included fonz, herd. I suspect he fancies himself to get something out of the talent of clark, CNZ and bannan, but they've not been doing themselves any favours

[nick harper]

I think this the most important five days in many years at Villa. The squad reminds me of the side that went down in the 80s. A combination of underachieving senior players and home grown players nowhere near good enough.

The confidence has drained from them all - unsurprising given the stats for the last 18 games.

If Lerner fails to give Lambert the support now, he is not only condemning the club, he is also giving two fingers to the 25,000 season ticket holders who backed them in the Summer.

[mrfuse]

Unfortunately, we as football fans know a lot less than we think. To the man, villa fans thought the problems lay at the feet of mcleish and we can try and pretend it had nothing to do with the blues but it did. Not once did I head a chant for him. Now, in hindsight, it would appear eck was probably doing as well as could be expected with this lot.

I'm sorry but I cant agree with this. Just because we have had 2 poor games with a manager believed to be pretty decent  does not make up for the fact that McLeish is an average manager at best.

Before we had even stepped foot on the pitch we had lost a game under McLeish with his weird team selection, tactics and negative approach.... Spurs away anyone?
Yes every so often Managers make decisions that seem strange and often they've seen something in training we haven't but McLeish used to go out of his way to send us into disbelief most games.

So now because we have lost 2 games 1 against a newly promoted team that I always hate for a first game of the season and 1 against a very good team that has had the same manager for 10 years and a very good first team you are saying McLeish wasn't that bad?
Despite being poor for 2 games I've already seen enough to suggest that Lambert is making the right choices even though we have limited funds and players (getting rid of Warnock and Hutton for a starters)

I cant imagine we will get anything out of the Newcastle game either and Swansea are looking an excellent team early on, so it will get worse before it gets better. Nothing can alter the fact that despite Leaner's Agenda, McLeish is a very poor Manager and that's putting it kindly.

[Holte L2]

That bullshit villa views site is linking us with Doyle and Downing.

[Redsamurai]

Matt Kendrick has just tweeted -

Villa intend to make at least two signings before Friday's deadline, even if players don't leave.

so lets talk about who we might get in and end the doom and gloom !

 - two games in and we want every-one sacked !  give it ten games and see where we siting in the table before writing off season.

new manager, new system and new players take time to gel.

[mr underhill]

agreed but you don't get time in this league. four games in with nothing or a sinngle point and the die is cast especially when results have been consistently poor over a sustained period as they have with us. Significant strengthening this week or investing in PL was a total waste of time and another insult to the fans.

[LeeB]

agreed but you don't get time in this league. four games in with nothing or a sinngle point and the die is cast especially when results have been consistently poor over a sustained period as they have with us. Significant strengthening this week or investing in PL was a total waste of time and another insult to the fans.

When were the other two games?

[olaftab]

People are predicting future now!