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

[ozzjim]

How does he get away with it? Loathsome he really is.

[Dave]

How does he get away with it? Loathsome he really is.

He's not breaking any rules. So there's nothing to get away with.

[supertom]

Dorrans could get into our side at the minute. He's not a bad player and he's got plenty of experience. I don't think he's got enough quality for what we need though. He'd neither be the anchorman we lack in midfield, or the creative spark. If anything he'd be competing for Westwoods spot, and I'd put Westy in there every day of the week over Dorrans.
I'd much rather try to get someone like Parker who has attributes we're sorely lacking.

[eastie]

Dorrans could get into our side at the minute. He's not a bad player and he's got plenty of experience. I don't think he's got enough quality for what we need though. He'd neither be the anchorman we lack in midfield, or the creative spark. If anything he'd be competing for Westwoods spot, and I'd put Westy in there every day of the week over Dorrans.
I'd much rather try to get someone like Parker who has attributes we're sorely lacking.

Not really seen much of him recently, he looked decent a couple of years ago but I remember draper looked decent for a year then faded - has dorrans been as good since his injury?

The quotes from lambert in that article suggest there is maybe not as much money available as hoped.

[Villan For Life]

How does he get away with it? Loathsome he really is.

He does it during every transfer window and the wank-fest media lap it up.

[eastie]

Looks like Keane is off the radar- 


ROBBIE KEANE has turned down a loan move to QPR — because the veteran striker fears it would burn him out.
The LA Galaxy star, 32, was wanted by Hoops boss Harry Redknapp to kick-start his rock-bottom side’s Premier League survival push in January.
But the Republic of Ireland captain will stay in America during the MLS close-season.
He said: “It’s been a long season, with the Euros and what have you.
“I’ve a few little niggles that need to be sorted out so I don’t think it would be right to go anywhere.”
Unlike former Galaxy team-mate David Beckham, Keane could now see out his career in Los Angeles after penning a new two-year deal.
He added: “I had a year left and they offered me a new contract at the end of last season.”

[peter w]

It may be my semantic pedantry but Mancini said that whilst Man City wouldn't be selling anyone he made no mention of not loaning players out. Lambert has also come out and said no to loans and will only buy. Is there a chance that this is the public side of behind closed doors negotiations? As in Mancini has said to us that he wants to keep the option of having Lescott back should he need him and we've said no we want to buy.

[PeterWithe]

Has Lambert really said no loans? Seems strange to rule out borrowing players we probably can't afford to have on the payroll permanently to get us out of the shit.

[eastie]

@AvfcMysteryman: Aubameyang is the number 1 target now BUT Lescott is not totally dead deal just not looking good now

[peter w]

There was a quote somewhere-I think on here - we he said just that (preferring not to loan).

[eastie]

Aston Villa are sitting on a ticking time bomb that will force the club into a major cut-price clear-out if they are relegated.

Sunday Mirror Sport understands top-paid Villa players Darren Bent, Stephen Ireland, Shay Given and Charles N’Zogbia do not have relegation clauses in their contracts.

With Gabriel Agbonlahor and Alan Hutton also on healthy deals that run to 2015, Villa cannot afford to go down without slashing the wage bill.

Villa’s annual wage bill for those six alone – who have all been dumped or demoted by manager Paul Lambert – is just under a staggering £17million.

 

A Villa Park source said: “The big earners do not have relegation clauses and the club cannot afford to keep paying them if they go down. Their only option will be to find new clubs for them.” The expensive contracts of Richard Dunne and Stephen Warnock expire in the summer and they will not be renewed if the club cannot find buyers for the pair this month.

But Villa are terrified of the double threat of being relegated and stuck with an enormous wage bill for players who are not part of Lambert’s plans.

Fulham and QPR may test the water with a £7m bid for striker Bent, who earns £65,000 a week and cost a staggering £24m from Sunderland two years ago.

[eastie]

By Andy Dunn | 05/01/13 

Paul Lambert is clearly not taking the FA Cup seriously … he started Darren Bent yesterday.

You can read the full Sunday Mirror match report here: Aston Villa 2-1 Ipswich

Bent had not been seen for almost a month – well, not in uniform anyway – after suffering a ­hamstring injury.

Some cynics in these parts mumbled doubts about the seriousness of his complaint. Harsh. But there is no doubting ­Lambert has reservations when it comes to Bent.

One more transfer and clubs will have spent over £50million on Bent but Lambert insists the striker is not for sale in this ­transfer window.

Even if he was, on this evidence and despite an accomplished finish, ­buyers would hardly be queuing back to the M6.

In horseracing parlance, Bent needed this run. His touch was occasionally heavy, his movement – his run for the goal excepted – not as sharp as it can be. But Lambert needs to find a way to fully reintegrate Bent because he is going to need all the help and experience he can muster over the next four months.

This is a fragile Aston Villa. Take the example of Jordan Bowery, the 21-year-old making his first start since joining from Chesterfield in the summer.

Moments before ­Ipswich took the lead, Bowery had a very decent chance to put Villa ahead. Scott Loach made a fine save.

For a spell, Bowery’s head lowered and he was a passenger.

He recovered but not sufficiently to last the full game making way for Gabriel Agbonlahor with half an hour remaining.

Bowery has promise but that cameo was an ­example of how brittle youth can be.

Lambert cannot be foolish enough to rely on it for the rest of the season.

There is a blend to be had at Villa Park.

Agbonlahor’s return ­after a month’s absence was encouraging and ­another expensive player with an uncertain future, Charles N’Zogbia, was one of the more creative on show before he tired.

And don’t forget Shay Given. He looks to have lost little of his confidence and agility.

With an appetising ­Capital One Cup semi against Bradford to come and their passage to the fourth round of the FA Cup secured by Andreas Weimann’s late score, Villa still have opportunities to make this as much a successful season as a struggle.

But mentally, probably more so than physically, the workload will be considerable. And that is why Lambert will have to keep his senior players sweet.

Bent was not brilliant in his first game for four weeks. But he finished well for his 23rd goal in 49 Villa starts.

And that sort of strike-rate – almost one every other game – has followed Bent throughout a career of over 300 matches.

Whatever you think of Bent – and he is the sort who can divide opinion dramatically – that is the sort of statistic Lambert can ill-afford to ignore in the second half of the season.

Yes, it has been refreshing to see Lambert’s faith in youth, but now is the time for a healthy dash of experience.

And Bent certainly has that.

[Greg N'Ash]

Unless Lerner's giving him a fortune to spend, I'm not sure we can ignore loans with the sort of experienced players you'd hope Lambert is looking at. Lescott on loan would be great.

We don't get lumbered with an expensive misfit if he's another Dunne/Ireland and we go down, and Citeh can recall him if they get injuries? Seems the way forward to me.

[N'Rexy]

That's a good article from Andy Dunn. Sums up a lot of what is said on here. Let's hope the TW sees some experienced heads come in.

The Mirror article, sounds like scaremongering. Most players don't have relegation clauses and if they are really that scared about it then how about investing now to prevent relegation! A non-story if you ask me (which no-one is).

[Clampy]

That's a good article from Andy Dunn. Sums up a lot of what is said on here. Let's hope the TW sees some experienced heads come in.

The Mirror article, sounds like scaremongering. Most players don't have relegation clauses and if they are really that scared about it then how about investing now to prevent relegation! A non-story if you ask me (which no-one is).

It's just another woeful Mirror article with no substance to it whatsoever.