Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[SamTheMouse]

I think the same applies to the new signings. Don’t expect world beaters (you never know?) but given how meticulously they will have been researched, I expect more of what we saw post-February.

This is the one thing that reassures me in all this. Lambert has a fairly holistic approach and will be looking at the bigger picture, but it's nice that we have a manager who's able to source quality for good prices. Under previous managers, losing Benteke could have been the start of a collapse, but with Lambert, it should hopefully be just a setback.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think he now knows the system he wants to play which is a big step forward to where we started last year. He has now purchased players this summer that will be able to play in that system as opposed to making do with what he had this time last year.

Indeed, I have no idea how helenius will slot in but I'm sure lambert has researched him well and believes he will fit into our style , no question he will look to add another striker too if benteke and bent both go.

Personally I'd be trying to make our big signing this summer an inside forward (or #10).  I'd do this before Benteke leaves as he will either complement Benteke (if no decent bids are received) or improve our over all attack so that either Weimann/Helenius or Gabby can play centrally.  It covers all the bases basically.

[danlanza]

I think the same applies to the new signings. Don’t expect world beaters (you never know?) but given how meticulously they will have been researched, I expect more of what we saw post-February.

This is the one thing that reassures me in all this. Lambert has a fairly holistic approach and will be looking at the bigger picture, but it's nice that we have a manager who's able to source quality for good prices. Under previous managers, losing Benteke could have been the start of a collapse, but with Lambert, it should hopefully be just a setback.

To be honest STM, i do not think this will bother Lambert at all, certainly i do not think he will see it as a set back. Benteke's true colors shown. I think Lambert will just say " See you Jimmy" and move on.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think the same applies to the new signings. Don’t expect world beaters (you never know?) but given how meticulously they will have been researched, I expect more of what we saw post-February.

This is the one thing that reassures me in all this. Lambert has a fairly holistic approach and will be looking at the bigger picture, but it's nice that we have a manager who's able to source quality for good prices. Under previous managers, losing Benteke could have been the start of a collapse, but with Lambert, it should hopefully be just a setback.

I am more or less of the same mind.

It's gutting to lose Benteke so quickly, but really, if you have faith in the manager at the time, it becomes much easier to handle. He's not going to work miracles, so he's going to need a decent chunk of that cash to spend, but I still think next season will be anything but boring.

And after the McLeish season, that means a lot, still.

[eastie]

I think the same applies to the new signings. Don’t expect world beaters (you never know?) but given how meticulously they will have been researched, I expect more of what we saw post-February.

This is the one thing that reassures me in all this. Lambert has a fairly holistic approach and will be looking at the bigger picture, but it's nice that we have a manager who's able to source quality for good prices. Under previous managers, losing Benteke could have been the start of a collapse, but with Lambert, it should hopefully be just a setback.

To be honest STM, i do not think this will bother Lambert at all, certainly i do not think he will see it as a set back. Benteke's true colors shown. I think Lambert will just say " See you Jimmy" and move on.

I think he will see it as a setback but nothing too major , he will have other targets and move on with his plans- the real loser is benteke as i think wherever he goes the pressure will be on him and a big fee hanging over him - another year at villa would have been better for his career.

[Toronto Villa]

I find Lambert to be very clued in with the supporters. Publicly he'll say this is disappointing. Privately he'll be furious, will have told Benteke and his roach to pack your bags and move on if they don't want to be a part of what he is building. However his anger will be rational and he'll have started the replacement process with his scouting team in anticipation this happening at some point.

[Concrete John]

Given the value for money Lambert has shown he can get in the market and the high fee we will demand for him, Benteke leaving could arguably improve us as a side overall.  Ideal situation is he stays and Randy gives Lambert those funds anyway, thereby improving us even more, but this may not even amount to being called a 'setback'.

It's all about how we replace him and spend the money.   

[Toronto Villa]

The one thing that is always shit is that when club's see that we have just sold a player for some ridiculous amount of money then they ask for a little more which holds up the negotiations. Always better as we have done to buy from a perceived position of poverty, so to speak.

[paul_e]

In terms of replacing Benteke I don't have any names but I do believe that the scouting setup at the club is such that we will have put together dossiers on all of our players and a number of options to replace them.

It's a sensible approach if you have a 'young and hungry' policy; every now and then one of them will either not meet our expectation or will progress much quicker than the rest of the team and look to move on.

I trust the club to already be sounding out the agents and clubs of 4-5 players as potential replacements.

I also think Belhanda and Kiyotake were in the "replacements for n'zogbia" section.

[Matt Collins]

Having done a bit of Internet research, I'd hazard a punt that ideye brown or finbogason are the more likely recruits, tho that's a very ill informed view.

Ideye has pace and power; finnbogason height and technique. Neither seem to have both though.

I think we need a centre forward, number 10 or box to box goalscoring midfielder and then see what change is left.

We could be in for a tricky start to the season I feel. Hope not tho

[claretandbeer]

I think he now knows the system he wants to play which is a big step forward to where we started last year. He has now purchased players this summer that will be able to play in that system as opposed to making do with what he had this time last year.

Yes,a good reason to be optimistic.Lambert knows better the strengths and weaknesses of his squad which is so important with the transfer window system

[mr underhill]

lots of folk rate Finnbogason very highly, Brown Ideye less so. Neither in Benteke's league but either worth a punt for the right money

[Concrete John]

lots of folk rate Finnbogason very highly, Brown Ideye less so. Neither in Benteke's league but either worth a punt for the right money

And Benteke wasn't in Bent's league when we signed him 12 months ago, so let's wait and see!

[mr underhill]

very true. IMO there's a significant chance that whomever comes in to replace Benteke,  should he go, they will be someone not too many will have heard of.

[barrysleftfoot]

 If Benteke does go to Chelsk, then i can't see Mourinhio playing Lukaku and Benteke together.He likes a lone striker , with 2 playing off, now if they are to go for Benteke, and Lukaku is direct opposition to Benteke for 1st choice in the Belgium team, then maybe to replace Benteke, and do better is the inducement he needs to join us.

 Lukaku is'nt at Chelskis stage yet, Benteke might be, but if they are interested, then Lukaku plus £10m would do me, or £23m off Spuds plus Sigurdsson.