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

[Concrete John]

I know I shouldn't be but I'm still surprised by our lack of transfer activity.

Does anyone think we can stay up without at least 2, posssibly 3 signings?

Urgh.

Prior to Chelsea we were doing OK with the players we had, so I wouldn't say it's impossible. 

We'd need Vlaar and/or Dunne to be fully fit for the rest of the season and to somehow get the midfield ticking again.  Some problems can be addressed on the training pitch just as well as they can in the transfer market. 

Prior to chelsea we were in the bottom 6 with 3 away wins and  3 home wins in the previous 12 months - hardly doing ok .

We were never going to be challenging for Europe this season, so given that we were clear of trouble and looked to be improving, I'd class that as 'doing ok'!

[Le Lapin]

Ive just checked the burgers in my fridge.

And they're off.....

Congratulations on being the 1000th person today to tell that joke - you have won a prize!

In fairness he is the first person to tell it in the transfer thread!

And it still made me laugh. Well done that man.

[eastie]

Ive just checked the burgers in my fridge.

And they're off.....

Congratulations on being the 1000th person today to tell that joke - you have won a prize!

In fairness he is the first person to tell it in the transfer thread!

In a mood coz i was asked if i wanted anything on my burger and said a fiver each way - still lost.
Fair enough, i will trot off to see if theres any news on the mirror website.

[eastie]

Latest from nursey-

Paul Lambert is starting to come under attack from frustrated Aston Villa fans but owner Randy Lerner is not about to be panicked into a rash sacking.

Lambert is the man many Villa fans begged for last year when Alex McLeish’s doomed reign was drawing to a close.

Yet now with Villa in the relegation zone and on the verge of a possible embarrassing Capital One Cup exit to League Two Bradford, many are demanding his head.

I am not for one moment suggesting these are anything other than very worrying times for the club after a home defeat to Southampton saw Villa slide to 18th.

Combined with improvements at QPR and Reading, some supporters now fear Villa are destined for the drop.

But owner Lerner still trusts the capable manager he recruited from Norwich in the summer and so should fans.

Lerner has never sacked a full-time manager in the midst of a season since buying the club in 2006.

And I cannot see him pulling the trigger now.

Who better out there is realistically available to improve the situation?

Roberto Di Matteo? Well he does have a house locally in Leamington and has won the Champions League but is he the man for a relegation fight? West Brom didn’t think so!

What Villa need is stability and continuity which they have not had since Martin O’Neill quit and Lambert simply needs more time.

The squad and dressing room are behind Lambert – not least because he has given most of them their breakthrough or a run in the side.

There are mitigating factors behind Villa’s disappointing fortunes this term but Lerner appreciates Lambert has tried to follow his mandate to sell big earners and minimise wages of new players.

I believe Lambert’s decision to go for young, hungry, cheaper players from abroad and the lower leagues was as much a matter of necessity for the club ahead of financial fair play, as his preferred policy.

Yes Villa have a young, inexperienced side but Ron Vlaar should return at The Hawthorns on Saturday, which will be a big boost to the club’s porous defence.



Post-match after the Southampton loss, Saints striker Rickie Lambert predicted Villa would survive as they have too much quality.

He said he felt Villa would string together four or five wins to secure their top-flight status and I agree.

But time is running out for senior creative stars like Gabriel Agbonlahor, Charles N’Zogbia and Stephen Ireland to now FINALLY step up and deliver consistently.

N’Zogbia scored ten goals two seasons ago and finished the campaign in brilliant fashion to help keep Wigan up and how Villa need him now to repeat that form.

Lambert’s Norwich side, who secured two successive promotions, traditionally finished the season strongly and Villa are aiming to do the same.

Lambert’s predecessor Alex McLeish struggled to ascertain what Villa’s best side was as so many players were frequently under-performing.

His successor has had the same problem but is getting closer to working out his best formation with Villa’s new 4-2-3-1 shape appearing so far best suited to utilise their raft of attacking options like Christian Benteke, Andreas Weimann, Darren Bent, N’Zogbia and Agbonlahor.

Allied with the return of Vlaar and two or three additions this month at centre-back, left-back and centre-midfield, Villa should become much more solid and I believe results will pick up.

Next Tuesday’s cup match is also clearly crucial.                                         

The momentum and feel-good factor engendered by Villa coming from behind to beat Bradford, who lead 3-1 from the first leg, would lift the whole club.

And I reckon it would have a knock-on effect in the League, where Villa then have some potentially winnable matches against the likes of Newcastle and West Ham.

So these are two crunch games coming up against West Brom and then Bradford.

A draw and a win would leave Villa looking well placed to kick on and survive – and possibly even win the Capital One Cup too, if they play Swansea at Wembley.

It is a scenario Lambert remains hopeful of and if he pulls it off he will reap the rewards of playing such a young side as they will surely improve next season.

[Ron Manager]

Latest from nursey-

Paul Lambert is starting to come under attack from frustrated Aston Villa fans but owner Randy Lerner is not about to be panicked into a rash sacking.

Lambert is the man many Villa fans begged for last year when Alex McLeish’s doomed reign was drawing to a close.

Yet now with Villa in the relegation zone and on the verge of a possible embarrassing Capital One Cup exit to League Two Bradford, many are demanding his head.

I am not for one moment suggesting these are anything other than very worrying times for the club after a home defeat to Southampton saw Villa slide to 18th.

Combined with improvements at QPR and Reading, some supporters now fear Villa are destined for the drop.

But owner Lerner still trusts the capable manager he recruited from Norwich in the summer and so should fans.

Lerner has never sacked a full-time manager in the midst of a season since buying the club in 2006.

And I cannot see him pulling the trigger now.

Who better out there is realistically available to improve the situation?

Roberto Di Matteo? Well he does have a house locally in Leamington and has won the Champions League but is he the man for a relegation fight? West Brom didn’t think so!

What Villa need is stability and continuity which they have not had since Martin O’Neill quit and Lambert simply needs more time.

The squad and dressing room are behind Lambert – not least because he has given most of them their breakthrough or a run in the side.

There are mitigating factors behind Villa’s disappointing fortunes this term but Lerner appreciates Lambert has tried to follow his mandate to sell big earners and minimise wages of new players.

I believe Lambert’s decision to go for young, hungry, cheaper players from abroad and the lower leagues was as much a matter of necessity for the club ahead of financial fair play, as his preferred policy.

Yes Villa have a young, inexperienced side but Ron Vlaar should return at The Hawthorns on Saturday, which will be a big boost to the club’s porous defence.



Post-match after the Southampton loss, Saints striker Rickie Lambert predicted Villa would survive as they have too much quality.

He said he felt Villa would string together four or five wins to secure their top-flight status and I agree.

But time is running out for senior creative stars like Gabriel Agbonlahor, Charles N’Zogbia and Stephen Ireland to now FINALLY step up and deliver consistently.

N’Zogbia scored ten goals two seasons ago and finished the campaign in brilliant fashion to help keep Wigan up and how Villa need him now to repeat that form.

Lambert’s Norwich side, who secured two successive promotions, traditionally finished the season strongly and Villa are aiming to do the same.

Lambert’s predecessor Alex McLeish struggled to ascertain what Villa’s best side was as so many players were frequently under-performing.

His successor has had the same problem but is getting closer to working out his best formation with Villa’s new 4-2-3-1 shape appearing so far best suited to utilise their raft of attacking options like Christian Benteke, Andreas Weimann, Darren Bent, N’Zogbia and Agbonlahor.

Allied with the return of Vlaar and two or three additions this month at centre-back, left-back and centre-midfield, Villa should become much more solid and I believe results will pick up.

Next Tuesday’s cup match is also clearly crucial.                                         

The momentum and feel-good factor engendered by Villa coming from behind to beat Bradford, who lead 3-1 from the first leg, would lift the whole club.

And I reckon it would have a knock-on effect in the League, where Villa then have some potentially winnable matches against the likes of Newcastle and West Ham.

So these are two crunch games coming up against West Brom and then Bradford.

A draw and a win would leave Villa looking well placed to kick on and survive – and possibly even win the Capital One Cup too, if they play Swansea at Wembley.

It is a scenario Lambert remains hopeful of and if he pulls it off he will reap the rewards of playing such a young side as they will surely improve next season.

The words Gabriel Agbonlahor and creative do not belong together.

Surely a loan player to the end of the season should have been arranged by now?

[PaulWinch again]

'Too much quality to go down' not convinced on that at all. I don't think we have any fight, and we need to bring some quality in.

[eastie]

'Too much quality to go down' not convinced on that at all. I don't think we have any fight, and we need to bring some quality in.

I think you are right.

[Villain1874]

Latest from nursey-

Paul Lambert is starting to come under attack from frustrated Aston Villa fans but owner Randy Lerner is not about to be panicked into a rash sacking.

Lambert is the man many Villa fans begged for last year when Alex McLeish’s doomed reign was drawing to a close.

Yet now with Villa in the relegation zone and on the verge of a possible embarrassing Capital One Cup exit to League Two Bradford, many are demanding his head.

I am not for one moment suggesting these are anything other than very worrying times for the club after a home defeat to Southampton saw Villa slide to 18th.

Combined with improvements at QPR and Reading, some supporters now fear Villa are destined for the drop.

But owner Lerner still trusts the capable manager he recruited from Norwich in the summer and so should fans.

Lerner has never sacked a full-time manager in the midst of a season since buying the club in 2006.

And I cannot see him pulling the trigger now.

Who better out there is realistically available to improve the situation?

Roberto Di Matteo? Well he does have a house locally in Leamington and has won the Champions League but is he the man for a relegation fight? West Brom didn’t think so!

What Villa need is stability and continuity which they have not had since Martin O’Neill quit and Lambert simply needs more time.

The squad and dressing room are behind Lambert – not least because he has given most of them their breakthrough or a run in the side.

There are mitigating factors behind Villa’s disappointing fortunes this term but Lerner appreciates Lambert has tried to follow his mandate to sell big earners and minimise wages of new players.

I believe Lambert’s decision to go for young, hungry, cheaper players from abroad and the lower leagues was as much a matter of necessity for the club ahead of financial fair play, as his preferred policy.

Yes Villa have a young, inexperienced side but Ron Vlaar should return at The Hawthorns on Saturday, which will be a big boost to the club’s porous defence.



Post-match after the Southampton loss, Saints striker Rickie Lambert predicted Villa would survive as they have too much quality.

He said he felt Villa would string together four or five wins to secure their top-flight status and I agree.

But time is running out for senior creative stars like Gabriel Agbonlahor, Charles N’Zogbia and Stephen Ireland to now FINALLY step up and deliver consistently.

N’Zogbia scored ten goals two seasons ago and finished the campaign in brilliant fashion to help keep Wigan up and how Villa need him now to repeat that form.

Lambert’s Norwich side, who secured two successive promotions, traditionally finished the season strongly and Villa are aiming to do the same.

Lambert’s predecessor Alex McLeish struggled to ascertain what Villa’s best side was as so many players were frequently under-performing.

His successor has had the same problem but is getting closer to working out his best formation with Villa’s new 4-2-3-1 shape appearing so far best suited to utilise their raft of attacking options like Christian Benteke, Andreas Weimann, Darren Bent, N’Zogbia and Agbonlahor.

Allied with the return of Vlaar and two or three additions this month at centre-back, left-back and centre-midfield, Villa should become much more solid and I believe results will pick up.

Next Tuesday’s cup match is also clearly crucial.                                         

The momentum and feel-good factor engendered by Villa coming from behind to beat Bradford, who lead 3-1 from the first leg, would lift the whole club.

And I reckon it would have a knock-on effect in the League, where Villa then have some potentially winnable matches against the likes of Newcastle and West Ham.

So these are two crunch games coming up against West Brom and then Bradford.

A draw and a win would leave Villa looking well placed to kick on and survive – and possibly even win the Capital One Cup too, if they play Swansea at Wembley.

It is a scenario Lambert remains hopeful of and if he pulls it off he will reap the rewards of playing such a young side as they will surely improve next season.

I honestly think the press have got this wrong about Villa fans calling for Paul Lambert sacking...
Most of the Villa fans I talk to are obviously not happy but their more incline to blame Mr Lerner, I certainly blame Mr Lerner...

[itbrvilla]

Latest from nursey-

Lambert is the man many Villa fans begged for last year when Alex McLeish’s doomed reign was drawing to a close.

That would be the away following at Norwich which obviously represented many.

[prmort]

Latest from nursey-

Lambert is the man many Villa fans begged for last year when Alex McLeish’s doomed reign was drawing to a close.

That would be the away following at Norwich which obviously represented many.

I always took that as a dig at TSM, as we had never sung his name,  rather than "begging" for PL.

[not3bad]

'Too much quality to go down' not convinced on that at all. I don't think we have any fight, and we need to bring some quality in.

I think you are right.

To be fair the article basically said that as well (at centre back, left back and centre mid).

[not3bad]

Latest from nursey-

Lambert is the man many Villa fans begged for last year when Alex McLeish’s doomed reign was drawing to a close.

That would be the away following at Norwich which obviously represented many.

I always took that as a dig at TSM, as we had never sung his name,  rather than "begging" for PL.

I think it was a bit of both as Lambert was the fans choice to take over.

[Irish villain]

A lot of wishful thinking in that article.

I wish all that happens too!

[Greg N'Ash]

Journo's eh? Next they'll be saying we're lucky to have Lambert.

[itbrvilla]

Latest from nursey-

Lambert is the man many Villa fans begged for last year when Alex McLeish’s doomed reign was drawing to a close.

That would be the away following at Norwich which obviously represented many.

I always took that as a dig at TSM, as we had never sung his name,  rather than "begging" for PL.

I think it was a bit of both as Lambert was the fans choice to take over.

Says who?!