Who Stays and Who goes

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

Dunne, Holman, Ireland, Bannan and Given can all go for me. I'd hold onto Bent until January 2014 to see if he can come good under Lambert.
I'd like to see us get an experienced central midfielder. A leader, a captain. Someone maybe who's best years are behind him but a solid pro able to help our younger players. A Scott Parker type player and character.
Guzan deserves to have the No1 shirt so a suitable back up keeper is essential. I wouldn't mind an experienced central defender as well who can be competition for Vlaar, Clark and Baker. - Maybe Shawcross if Stoke end up relegated.

[JUAN PABLO]

I'm undecided on KEA and Holman, but I do think Albrighton needs to be moved on now.

As I see it, we play a midfield three and presently have Westwood, Delph, Sylla, Bannan, KEA, Ireland, Holman, Albrighton and N'Zogbia fighting for those positions.  If you take at least one to come in, which is needed in terms of quality, that's 10 for 3 slots, so wages wise we can't afford that, meaning quite a few need to go.

Holman just looks rubbish to me , get rid and replace with Townsend ( qpr/spurs )  . He looks good

Although I think calling him rubbish is a bit harsh, I can't argue he's actually been good.

But then do we write players off too quickly?  Are we certain he won't improve if he stays?  There's more than one player of a better pedigree than him that's taken time to adjust to PL life.

And also, if all these players go we'll need to replace them.  I doubt we'll have mega money in the summer, so having people like Holman on hand to fill out the squad allows us to focus quality over quantity, which is what we need.

He has been CJ at times ,   had the odd alright game but it is not good enough for the prem , like a few down there .

Fair enough if you don't rate him, but my point was more of  a general one that we need to try and make do with some of the lesser lights in the squad, so that we don't end up in a situation where we bring in 9 players again.  It's a fact that is often overlooked, but that's a huge influx Lambert had to deal with this season.  If keeping Holman or similar meant that we could get 1 £10m player and opposed to needing two £5m players, then I'd keep him.

hopefully we can bring some of the kids in . yes I know , I know , youngsters again ..   but with a couple of leaders in the transfer window too , one at the back and the playmaker to replace Ireland and Holman .

[Clampy]

I think he probably will JP. He'll be encouraged by how well the likes of Lowton and Benteke have done.

[JUAN PABLO]

I would be expecting Gary Gardner and Samir Carruthers to start getting the odd game . Bring Jack Grealish onto the bench too.

[eastie]

I would be expecting Gary Gardner and Samir Carruthers to start getting the odd game . Bring Jack Grealish onto the bench too.

Bang on the money jp.
Add to these with two or three quality experienced heads and we could be looking for a top 10 spot next season.
There are a lot of players who are not good enough and can be hopefully shipped out ., natural progression .

[paul_e]

If Holman was 3-4 years younger I'd give him another year for sure, at his age I'm not so sure.

I agree on giving Grealish, Gardner and Carruthers a chance feature, it's a shame we're not already safe because that's something we could have looked at in the last 4-5 games, I do hope Gardner makes it back into the squad before the end of the season though, I think it would do him a lot of good to be involved with the first team after the year he's had, kind of like validation that he's not been forgotten about during his injury.

[Steve R]

I don't think Holman has the technique to succeed at Villa. I wouldn't be disappointed to see him move on.

Albrighton doesn't really fit the formation we play. It might be worth his while to try to re-invent himself as a right back. Other than that it's not in his interests to stay at the club. At 23 he shouldn't be playing u-21 football.

[Mister E]

Dunne, KEA, Ireland, Bannan, Albrighton, N'Zog and Given should be kissed off.
Can Stevens still remain a credible cover at LB (his absence in recent weeks would suggest not)? If not, move him on.
Question: can Lichaj be converted into a good reserve CB? If not, move him on.
Holman? - I think there might still be something there for us, as long as he knuckles down and sorts out his technique.
Herd: I still think is good DMF cover.

We need a couple of experienced CB and a commanding CMF.
And we may need a new reserve keeper, unless Siegrist is the one. Certianly Watkins will, I think, become a very good keeper but it may be too early for him.

Daniel Johnson, Gardner, Carruthers, Grealish - young MF to add to our current youthful midfield - are likely to be ready but should only be played if we bring in the right sort of authoritative MF general.


Williams and Donacien are the upandcoming defenders but there is a real need to support Vlaar with a large ball-winning CB. I don't think we'll get Shawcross if he becomes avaialble but someone like him would do it.

[paul_e]

Dunne, KEA, Ireland, Bannan, Albrighton, N'Zog and Given should be kissed off.
Can Stevens still remain a credible cover at LB (his absence in recent weeks would suggest not)? If not, move him on.
Question: can Lichaj be converted into a good reserve CB? If not, move him on.
Holman? - I think there might still be something there for us, as long as he knuckles down and sorts out his technique.
Herd: I still think is good DMF cover.

We need a couple of experienced CB and a commanding CMF.
And we may need a new reserve keeper, unless Siegrist is the one. Certianly Watkins will, I think, become a very good keeper but it may be too early for him.

Daniel Johnson, Gardner, Carruthers, Grealish - young MF to add to our current youthful midfield - are likely to be ready but should only be played if we bring in the right sort of authoritative MF general.


Williams and Donacien are the upandcoming defenders but there is a real need to support Vlaar with a large ball-winning CB. I don't think we'll get Shawcross if he becomes avaialble but someone like him would do it.

Do we really need a couple of centre backs?  1 of the right quality is enough for me, Baker and Clark have enough promise that I'd hate the get to the summer and then effectively demote them both to the odd 10minutes and cup game, which would have to happen if we signed 2 of the standard we require.  An alternative at right back is far higher on the list for me, and Lowton has done well enough that I don't mind it being a youngster.  We also really need someone as backup/competition for Gabby, as we are I don't see how we could play the shape we are if he was out injured.

[Steve R]

Lichaj is out of contract this year so it's more of a 'does he really figure long term?' decision. I suspect he's already been told to get in touch with his agent.

[Des Little]

I would hope that the very second our safety is assured, we can dedicate serious effort to getting rid of all that overpaid shit that we have been carrying for the past few years.  Let's bite the bullet and pay off who we have to and rid our balance sheet of these parasites. 
Rant over.

[villanois]

I'd be okay if we were unable to move Given on, it's serious competition to keep Guzan on his toes and would allow Siegrist time to develop and more importantly he may learn a allot from Given. While I recognize we need to cut the wage bill, don't think that will be as easy as some think and would devote far more time finding Ireland a new club than Given

[danno]

I'd be okay if we were unable to move Given on, it's serious competition to keep Guzan on his toes and would allow Siegrist time to develop and more importantly he may learn a allot from Given. While I recognize we need to cut the wage bill, don't think that will be as easy as some think and would devote far more time finding Ireland a new club than Given

That's pretty much my take on things as well. He's one of the few senior heads we have, and I'm sure he's good to have
around for the likes of Clark Stevens Burke Carruthers etc

[JUAN PABLO]

plus I saw something where he was moaning Lambert does not even talk to him . He's off , hoping...

Really? I haven't heard anything about that - doubt it would go down too well .

BRETT HOLMAN admits he has barely spoken to boss Paul Lambert after getting the chop.
The Aston Villa midfielder says he does not know why he has lost his place after being a regular during the first half of the season.
Aussie Holman, 28, has not started a game since January and when asked why, he said: “You’d have to ask the coach.
“I haven’t really spoken to him a lot. He’s gone for a different thing and different way but I can’t give you an answer.
“I honestly don’t think I have done anything different after Christmas. It’s disappointing.
“But if you dwell on it and let it get to you, then it really affects you and puts you in a pattern where your football can go downhill.”
Holman was Alex McLeish’s last Villa signing before he was sacked at the end of last season.
The Bosman free transfer from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar added: “It’s frustrating but it’s something I have to deal with.


March 23rd 2013

[eastie]

plus I saw something where he was moaning Lambert does not even talk to him . He's off , hoping...

Really? I haven't heard anything about that - doubt it would go down too well .

BRETT HOLMAN admits he has barely spoken to boss Paul Lambert after getting the chop.
The Aston Villa midfielder says he does not know why he has lost his place after being a regular during the first half of the season.
Aussie Holman, 28, has not started a game since January and when asked why, he said: “You’d have to ask the coach.
“I haven’t really spoken to him a lot. He’s gone for a different thing and different way but I can’t give you an answer.
“I honestly don’t think I have done anything different after Christmas. It’s disappointing.
“But if you dwell on it and let it get to you, then it really affects you and puts you in a pattern where your football can go downhill.”
Holman was Alex McLeish’s last Villa signing before he was sacked at the end of last season.
The Bosman free transfer from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar added: “It’s frustrating but it’s something I have to deal with.


March 23rd 2013

Should be pretty obvious to him why he lost his place.