Concrete Ron

[pauliewalnuts]

I suppose the question is, does our club actually want to keep him ?
If there is ANY truth in this, then it makes you wonder.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-ron-vlaar-fit-7617366

If that's the case then I reckon we've decided he can go.

What possible reason is there for there not having been discussions?

We have no Chief Exec might be one reason? I am guessing the decision making process is now a little more complex.

We seem to be managing other signings though (sanchez supposedly). I'd have though retaining a player is 'easier' than bringing in a new one?

I'm also not sure the lack of leadership at the top of the club at the moment is much of an excuse, either.

Whatever happened between Faulkner and Randy, it's a shame he couldn't stay at least till the end of the window, to handle precisely this sort of situation.

[PaulWinch again]

If Southampton offer the same sort of silly money they did for Long I would bite their hands off. Baker and Clark will be nowhere near as aimless with some real men around them and the opposition getting snake eyes from the Irishman.

If we ended up with Baker and Clark as our centre half pairing we'd go down. Baker in particular is nowhere near good enough.

Why would that happen other than injuries?

Well I'd hope it wouldn't, but that was what I thought Brian was suggesting.

[silhillvilla]

Maybe Lerner is screening his calls and nobody can reach him?

[dekko]

As far as we know there hasn't been a new contract offer for Delph, Gabby or Grealish (who I think is in his last year) either, so to me it looks like putting contract negotiations on hold until after the window is club policy at the moment.

Its not the worst idea, as with the kind of inflated transfer fees going around at the minute any bid we did get for those players is likely to be fairly high so it makes a degree of sense to keep options open.  I'd still be happier if we'd got them all signed up in May though.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Who exactly is doing the talks with potential signings and renewing contracts if we have no CEO ?

[MoetVillan]

Who exactly is doing the talks with potential signings and renewing contracts if we have no CEO ?

I thought Eastie was handling this

[dave.woodhall]

Who exactly is doing the talks with potential signings and renewing contracts if we have no CEO ?

Robin Russell, presumably.

[edgysatsuma89]

The one and only way man utd would come calling is late on in the window if they've failed to catch the bigger fish, i just don't see it.

I am more worried about Southampton (i know, yes Southampton). They might be able to offer more years and greater wages.

I am however strangely not as bothered about him going as i was a couple of weeks ago. I think reason is setting in after the world cup buzz.

[LeeB]

Who exactly is doing the talks with potential signings and renewing contracts if we have no CEO ?

Robin Russell, presumably.

We'll for someone who apparently knows fuck all, he's managed to seal what would have been a tricky deal with all the third party stuff.

Well done that man.

[silhillvilla]

Yeah credit where it's due here, Lerner , lambert, Russell, Doogan and even JPA.

[Steve67]

As far as we know there hasn't been a new contract offer for Delph, Gabby or Grealish (who I think is in his last year) either, so to me it looks like putting contract negotiations on hold until after the window is club policy at the moment.

Its not the worst idea, as with the kind of inflated transfer fees going around at the minute any bid we did get for those players is likely to be fairly high so it makes a degree of sense to keep options open.  I'd still be happier if we'd got them all signed up in May though.

I might be mistaken but didn't Grealish recently sign a new contract for two years?  I thought I had read it somewhere?

[Des Little]

If Southampton offer Shane Long-esque money for Vlaar he can go. But only if Lambert gets the lot to re-invest

[CJ]

Yanited's back line yesterday - Evans, Blackett and Smalling - is laughably poor and I'm still worried that van Gaal may come in for him late in the window. Hopefully Vlaar can see that we won't be struggling this season and may opt to stay with us rather than go for a stop-gap year at Manu while van Gaal rebuilds the defence and end up bench warming next year.

[silhillvilla]

If Yanited come calling we should bleed them dry . £20m.

[LeeB]

If Yanited come calling we should bleed them dry . £20m.

Absofuckinglutely.