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

[Jon Crofts]

Carew tweeted last night he'd be happy to come & play for Villa for nothing, a few more players with that kind of spirit might not go amiss.

Pity he rarely showed that attitude in his last year here .

True, but it's the attitude we need at the moment.

[N'ZMAV]

Randy has shown before he's not afraid to get us out the shit in January.

[Greg N'Ash]

10m isn't going to do much good. Thing is i'm not sure 20m will either ATM. On paper at least, we should have enough to avoid relegation but Lambert needs to go back to basics. He should be drilling that defence in training every day for however long it takes so every member of it knows eaxctly what they're doing. He can't make them world beaters but he can at least organise them so we don't ship 3 goals every match. If the players have confidence in what they're doing, morale will improve ten-fold - another headless chicken performance against swansea and i think Lambert's had it. A few old hands joining in January would be good but if they're flung into the current chaotic and disorganised set-up they're gonna struggle to make any impact.

[eastie]

10m isn't going to do much good. Thing is i'm not sure 20m will either ATM. On paper at least, we should have enough to avoid relegation but Lambert needs to go back to basics. He should be drilling that defence in training every day for however long it takes so every member of it knows eaxctly what they're doing. He can't make them world beaters but he can at least organise them so we don't ship 3 goals every match. If the players have confidence in what they're doing, morale will improve ten-fold - another headless chicken performance against swansea and i think Lambert's had it. A few old hands joining in January would be good but if they're flung into the current chaotic and disorganised set-up they're gonna struggle to make any impact.

I think midfield is a bigger problem than defence gnasher, with Vlaar and baker fit we will be more solid but our midfield is lacking badly in quality and creativity and needs at least  two really top additions.

[claretandbeer]

The midfield offers very little protection to our defence.2 midfielders that are an improvement on our current choices could see us become a totally different team.Scoreless draws v Stoke and Arsenal suggest the defence can be tight enough .

[Greg N'Ash]

10m isn't going to do much good. Thing is i'm not sure 20m will either ATM. On paper at least, we should have enough to avoid relegation but Lambert needs to go back to basics. He should be drilling that defence in training every day for however long it takes so every member of it knows eaxctly what they're doing. He can't make them world beaters but he can at least organise them so we don't ship 3 goals every match. If the players have confidence in what they're doing, morale will improve ten-fold - another headless chicken performance against swansea and i think Lambert's had it. A few old hands joining in January would be good but if they're flung into the current chaotic and disorganised set-up they're gonna struggle to make any impact.

I think midfield is a bigger problem than defence gnasher, with Vlaar and baker fit we will be more solid but our midfield is lacking badly in quality and creativity and needs at least  two really top additions.

I agree it badly needs quality but a lot of the goals scored against us in this deluge have been just awful defending - stuff that Div1 teams would be ashamed off. If you've got a woeful midfield or attack then you can survive to a certain extent, but if the opposition can run through your defence at will you've not got a hope. As many have pointed out, 15 goals in the last 3 games flattered us, could have been much much worse. I can't imagine Lerners going to allow more than three purchases so whoever comes in will need to hit the floor running so it would help if the current guys know what they're supposed to be doing. I'd bring Keane back for starters for morale more than anything, midfield and defence i have no idea - 2 experienced pro's who will come to us on the cheap and steady the ship......beats me

[Dante Lavelli]

You're right gregnash but injuries and the rapid rate of games is probably preventing any serious training at the moment.

Take Herd for example, he's getting abused, yet I feel few people forget that he's hardly played twenty-odd matches himself and is being asked to play out of position as CB.  Regardless, he always give it everything and certainly never hides.  He's no messi but his spirit and commitment should be recognised and can only be good for the club in the long run.

[citizenDJ]

Just been reading one of the 'gossip' columns, and read that QPR are 'preparing' a bid of £7.5 million for Yann M'Vila, plus a bid (of £3.5 million) to activate the release clause for Diame.

I can think of much worse ways to spend £11 million (although that seems low for M'Vila, I thought he was linked with Barca and all sorts for about twenty-odd in the summer?).

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Calling Michael Henke. Bring on a selection of young european gladiators that will enter the Villa Park arena and bring back pride, fighting spirit and technical ability. We are in a battle and 3-4 players of the right ilke and attitude can turn this battle around .......

[Dante Lavelli]

Yeah I seem to recall Wenger being linked with him and the fee was anticipated to be 20M-ish.

[N'ZMAV]

I got a feeling Craig Gardner will be coming back in.

[Greg N'Ash]

You're right gregnash but injuries and the rapid rate of games is probably preventing any serious training at the moment.

Take Herd for example, he's getting abused, yet I feel few people forget that he's hardly played twenty-odd matches himself and is being asked to play out of position as CB.  Regardless, he always give it everything and certainly never hides.  He's no messi but his spirit and commitment should be recognised and can only be good for the club in the long run.

well yes. Give me a Herd over an Ireland any day. Trouble is of the experienced players there's not many who actually want to be here or care about the club- Probably gabby, Bent and petrov. QPR syndrome

[N'ZMAV]

I like Diame, but not for the wages he will want.
Ok, we need to try and stay up. But, we can't cripple ourselves with massive earners. Especially if our attempt to stay up fails.

[eastie]

You're right gregnash but injuries and the rapid rate of games is probably preventing any serious training at the moment.

Take Herd for example, he's getting abused, yet I feel few people forget that he's hardly played twenty-odd matches himself and is being asked to play out of position as CB.  Regardless, he always give it everything and certainly never hides.  He's no messi but his spirit and commitment should be recognised and can only be good for the club in the long run.

.

Herd or Clark in midfield alongside Westwood  ahead of a back four would provide much more cover for the defence and then we need a couple of creative midfielders.

Herd  and clark as a defensive midfielder would be ok but neither are good enough centre halves, I much prefer baker alongside Vlaar when all fit.

[LeeB]

This is exactly the sort of moment in Championship manager when you used to add yourself as a new manager of Utd or Chelsea and make them buy Ireland and Hutton off you for 80 million

It's not just me then!