Clear-Out

[N'ZMAV]

I'd only keep Given, Bent, Gardner, Herd, N'Zogbia and Ireland. The rest I'd be open to offers for.

Add Clark and I agree.

Gabby?

Depends on the offer. 12 plus I would sell.

Yep, me too.

[Merv]

“I can assure the fans we will be in the market for players who cost money, but we are only targeting a couple of those types of players."

While I'm pleased to hear that we are looking to move on the dross and the overpaid and can begin the next stage of overhauling the squad, this line worries me. Just a couple of players who will cost a transfer fee?

[pauliewalnuts]

That surprises me.

I'd have been more inclined to think about it in the past, but this season, I reckon he's come on as a player a great deal, and added a lot more to his game.

[Merv]

BTW, I would:

Keep
Given, Guzan
Lichaj, Cuellar, Clark, Hutton, Baker, Stevens
Albrighton, Herd, Gardner, Ireland, Delph, N'Zogbia, Bannan.
Bent, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Delfouneso

Sell/release
Heskey, Petrov, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Makoun

Leaving us to find:
Two CBs, one LB, one/two CMs.

Eyes on Siegrist, Williams, Burke, Carruthers, Johnson supplementing the senior squad.

[Concrete John]

“I can assure the fans we will be in the market for players who cost money, but we are only targeting a couple of those types of players."

While I'm pleased to hear that we are looking to move on the dross and the overpaid and can begin the next stage of overhauling the squad, this line worries me. Just a couple of players who will cost a transfer fee?

I know what you mean, but if they've identified who they want and they happen to be mainly Bosmans, I'm OK with it.

[ozzjim]

That surprises me.

I'd have been more inclined to think about it in the past, but this season, I reckon he's come on as a player a great deal, and added a lot more to his game.

He has in parts Paulie, but he is too inconsistent in front of goal and not as good a winger as others, with the way the game is going I would love to keep him as back up for Bent, but he will never be happy with that. 1 up front looks like being the way for a couple of seasons, and I would prefer my number 9 to carry a goal threat than win plaudits for working hard.

[Concrete John]

Keep:-
Given, Guzan, Hutton, Lichaj, Cuellar, Clark, Baker, Stevens, Herd, Gardner, Petrov, Ireland, Bannan, Albrighton, N'Zogbia, Gabby, Bent & Weimann.

Sell/release:-
Warnock, Dunne, Collins, Heskey & Makoun.

The way I'd see it, we'd be looking to keep Carlos and Petrov for another year as experienced back up, with the combination of Clark, Herd & Gardner more regularly partnering a new CB and DCM.   

[The Left Side]

Is Dunne's contract up, I thought it was just Heskey?

[johncvilla88]

Heskey's Misses on twitter saying she wants Heskey to be offered new contract!  Please no!

[Californian Villain]

Heskey's Misses on twitter saying she wants Heskey to be offered new contract!  Please no!

I'd be happy for him to get a new contract - with anyone but Villa! I will be interesting to see what level of club are up for signing a non-scoring defensive left winger.

[Shoody]

Imo we need:

GK (Joe Lewis £FREE)
2CB's (Scott Dann £4m, Lewis Dunk £1m)
RB (Clyne £300k@tribunal)
LB (Figueroa £FREE)
DM (Diame £FREE)
CM (Davis £FREE)
Wng (Elm £5m or Verhoek £FREE or Hoilett £300k@tribunal)
Str (Olic? £FREE)

£10.3m for 9 players wouldnt be bad lol. Would be fucking amazing business if completely unrealistic.

Sell:
Dunne £3m (£2.6m in wages)
Collins £3m (£2.6m in wages)
Warnock £2m (£2.3m in wages)
Petrov £1.5m (£2.8m in wages)
Ireland £3m (£3.6m in wages) - dont want to but 70k a week makes him likely to be pushed on.
Makoun £2m (£1.5m in wages)
Heskey £Free (£3.1m in wages)
Guzan £Free (£1m in wages)
Beye £Free (gone) (£2m in wages)

£14.5m (hopefully more) and £21.5m in wages saved over next 12 months.

I can dream of

-----------Given
Clyne Dann Clark Figueroa
-----------Diame
------Gardner-Elm
Marc----------------NZogbia
-----------Bent

Bench: Guz, Lichaj, Dunk, Herd, Davis, Gabby, Bannan
Squad: Weimann, Fonz, Stevens, Siegrist, Baker, Carruthers, Graham, Burke.

Other than a poor, if promising, squad the first 11 would be very good and a vast improvement on what we currently have.

[KevinGage]

I'd only keep Given, Bent, Gardner, Herd, N'Zogbia and Ireland. The rest I'd be open to offers for.

I think Ireland will be for the cull.   Possibly even Charles N'Steady, if McLeish hangs about.  Both decent players, but not being utilised properly. The fallout with Big Eck can't have helped either.  For the wages they command, they need to be big first team players for us.

As for players we can attract, realistically we'll be restricted to the better players from lower mid table/ relegated sides or players from the lower divisions for the most part. So maybe Dann at Blackburn, Leon Britton and Ashley Williams  (Villa fan) at Swansea, Holden from Bolton and Rhodes from Huddersfield.

A lot will depend on the money we raise from outgoing transfers of course.  We've made noises about wanting to keep Bent, but we said the same about Downing. He's probably our most saleable asset, so cashing in on him seems likely.

Also have a feeling we might be in for McGeady, if we jettison the Zog.

As for out of contract players, as illustrated on the other thread there are some decent options.  Can't see us being a hugely attractive option for the better players mind. If Given was to depart I could see us going for Craig Gordon at Martin O'Neill's Sunderland.  (c)

[Steve67]

I wouldn't mind Dann and Hoilett from Blackburn when they get relegated.  Ashley Williams from Swansea City when we get rid of Collins, perhaps and all Wales swap?  We are deserate for midfield quality as well.  Flamini on a Bosman would be good.  I like the sound of an overhaul as it sounds like an exciting sumer ahead, the only trouble is, do I want McLeish to be the one overseeing it?  Er, no.

[cheltenhamlion]

Blimey, that is pie in the sky, Shoody. In particular, as you have released Guzan but still seem to expect him to warm the bench.

[N'ZMAV]

I wouldn't mind Dann and Hoilett from Blackburn when they get relegated.  Ashley Williams from Swansea City when we get rid of Collins, perhaps and all Wales swap?  We are deserate for midfield quality as well.  Flamini on a Bosman would be good.  I like the sound of an overhaul as it sounds like an exciting sumer ahead, the only trouble is, do I want McLeish to be the one overseeing it?  Er, no.

Get in Dyer and Britton from Swansea too. Also a couple of lively forwards.