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

[Drummond]

As long as we stay up I'm not bothered if we do sign a lot of young players with limited Premier League experience.

Young players need to play to become good enough, gone are the days of us scouting round the 'smaller' clubs in the top division looking for a bargain, every team spends money and buys international players these days. The place to look for younger players is either in the Premier League clubs' reserve squads or in the lower or foreign leagues and you're almost always taking a punt.

The problem for Lambert is that he has to fit new signings into an already crap squad rather than a squad that is challenging higher up the league.

When you look at it, Milner, Barry, Downing and Young all leaving without being replaced properly has been our problem, that and the ridiculous wages that the average players receive. It's  two-pronged problem that sits squarely at the door of Lerner for allowing MON to do what he did.

Anyway, back on point if anyone's still reading, I lie the thought of going for these younger imports, it's what we've needed for years.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

From the little of seen of him so far, Benteke looks very similar to Bent in how he plays, the goals he scores and chances he misses.

This.
Except for the pass for third goal and the even better crossfield ball for the chance near the end. Never seen Darren do anything like that!

[Karl Bridges]

If Richardson leaves Sunderland for Fulham then I reckon MON could go for Warnock as a cheap replacement. As for all the moaning about the names mentioned, Lambert has done alright so far in the transfer market. We need to trust what he is doing rather than bleating on like a bunch of fannies every time a name is mentioned.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

If Richardson leaves Sunderland for Fulham then I reckon MON could go for Warnock as a cheap replacement. As for all the moaning about the names mentioned, Lambert has done alright so far in the transfer market. We need to trust what he is doing rather than bleating on like a bunch of fannies every time a name is mentioned.

I think PL's done well in bringing good players with potential to develop in the Prem so far. He did a great job with Norwich with no "big" buys and had the players there playing well as a team, certainly what we haven't done in our 2 games so far ( or for the last 2 seasons!). It will inevitably take time for the team to gel and PL will have his own view of what he needs to make that happen. His need/desire to buy that he has indicated so far makes it very clear that he doesn't have much belief in the current personnel.
Benteke, fine, but we still need a playmaker or two in MF.
Interesting to see what happens this week!!! 

[placeforparks]

if norwich had gone straight back down after coming up, it wouldn't have been the end of the world for them.

after 20 years in the premier league, it could be catastrophic for us.

[pauliewalnuts]

Benteke's gone on strike, say Sky sources. Fair play comrade.

I'm not a fan if this new phenomenon of players going on strike to force a move.

I am, of course, prepared to overlook it in this instance.

[ajmant]

We need a LB, CB, CM, RW, CF at least! Thankfully MON isnt here so we'll get our transfers in early..........oh hang on!

And that's no dig at Lambert. It's a dig at Randy. For years, even with the likes of Young, Milner and Downing, we have been short of numbers at the Villa.

And now it appears it may just have caught up with us. We let people go, we don't replace. You can only do that for so long before you get caught out.

We have a few days to get numbers in, and they need to be good pro's, and I think we also need to hang on to Warnock and Dunne. If we get ANY more injuries at the moment, we ill be totally screwed. Dig deep Randy.

[godzvilla]

Benteke bid rejected according to sky

Sky Sports sources understand Aston Villa have had a bid for Genk striker Christian Benteke turned down.

The Belgium international has been tracked by Villa boss Paul Lambert for much of the summer and the Premier League club are hoping to tie up a deal before the transfer window closes.

Although Genk have turned down the offer, this is believed to have prompted Benteke to go on strike at the Jupiler League club.

That could yet force a move despite the fact that the player has three years remaining on his deal.

The 21-year-old has begun the season in fine form, netting three times in five games for Genk as well as scoring for Belgium against Holland last month ..................................Godzvilla!

[DeKuip]

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/342248?

Press are after Lerner then. He has backed himself into a corner by appointing a manager with such a growing reputation and then thus far not properly backing him.

If the club have any sense, they will give Lambert 20 million this week for 4-5 players that can bolster the very, very thin squad we have.

What a poorly thought out article Mr Wragg. You've shot yourself in the foot by writing it after a defeat by Everton – a club who have operated on a tighter budget than most in recent years but are where they are now through very good management and scouting. Surely this is the model Randy Lerner has now adopted and sees in Paul Lambert a man who can follow what David Moyes has done.
He asks where Villa were when Pienaar and Jelavic were available last year... why not ask where Martin O'Neill was when Pienaar, Jagielka and Baines were available in 2007, or Fellaini in 2008?
The answer to the current problem lies in good management and good scouting, not in throwing millions away in panic and living to regret it for years to come.

[Havencheese]

Benteke's gone on strike, say Sky sources. Fair play comrade.

I'm not a fan if this new phenomenon of players going on strike to force a move.

I am, of course, prepared to overlook it in this instance.

Me too. I was worried the bid may have been turned down due to the fact that Fulham were noted as apparently being interested also. You could say we're really closing in, but in the shirt, on the park n' all that I suppose.

[Chris Smith]

if norwich had gone straight back down after coming up, it wouldn't have been the end of the world for them.

after 20 years in the premier league, it could be catastrophic for us.

They didn't go down though, they finished comfortable in mid table with a collection of players most of us had never heard of.

[enigma]

With the new TV deal coming into force next season we simply have to stay in this division and do everything we can to do so. I don't care if we overspend this year, The big money coming in next year will cover that.

[Monty]

The player going on strike is interesting. Maybe Genk and him had an informal agreement that they'd let him go to a PL club and they've broken it? That often happens to young players in these smaller European leagues. Either way, good to see his heart is in Birmingham a-chasin' the balti.

[maidstonevillain]

With the new TV deal coming into force next season we simply have to stay in this division and do everything we can to do so. I don't care if we overspend this year, The big money coming in next year will cover that.

The counter argument is, if we are going to go down, do it this season, before the big increase in money, and before the palyers are on even more stupid salaries and contracts.

[luke25]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoan_Gouffran


Some people can't help themselves can they. I was seeing if for the reported €2 he was worth a shot to add a bit of trickery to the attack, and it already says he plays for us, brilliant.

That first paragraph has just made me almost choke with laughter.

His goals per game ratio for Bordeaux isn't too bad.

I was refering more to the line about him being allergic to grass, how the hek does that even work?