Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[The Man With A Stick]

Found this bosman list on a Spurs site, seems pretty up-to-date.

http://www.tottenhamhotspurs.tv/forum/transfer-news/32079-european-bosman-players-list-summer-2013-a.html

From that list Ryan Babel would be a good option if he has the right attitude.  Can play right across the front, good with the ball at his feet, pretty quick and has a point to prove after his time at liverpool.  I do get that' I'll probably be slated for the suggestion but he would give us an option up front as cover for gabby and weimann mainly.

I'd sooner have Maloney back seeing as he's no longer homesick.  He's looked alright whenever I've seen him for Wigan lately, though no doubt Whelan will be talking him up to be the Caledonian Messi and will be looking for at least £40m.

[john2710]

I just don't see the point at all. Let him go and get a long term solution in.
We know Lambert was interested in Lescott. That's what we need. Lescott and say, Dragovic or Kjaer, plus another left back and the defence is sorted.
It's time Joleon stopped fucking about and came home.

That'd be great, Lescott and Vlaar as regular starters, Dragovic could be backup/rotating for them if either gets injured and have Baker + Clark as understudies. Vlaar imo deserves to keep his place, he has brought a lot of stability and calmness into the game and has the real air of captaincy around him.

To be honest I dont see it with Vlaar at all. He has been a big disappointment this season imo. If anything he has proven he isnt captain material and needs a more experienced centre half next to him to lead the defence. Even at that I'm not sure Vlaar is good enough for a decent Villa side. A lot of his performances this season has been beyond atrocious.

I think we need to start guarding against revisionism when it comes to reviewing the efforts of our players and management this season.

65 goals conceded in the league thus far is the worst defensive effort from a Villa side since 86/87.
Our full backs have been desperately poor defensively for the majority of the season and teams have attacked us down the flanks routinely with success.
Matt Lowton goal against Stoke shouldnt hide from the fact that defensively he has at sea for most of the season. Physically weak, unable to compete on any cross to the backpost and slow. Very good on the ball no doubt but the talk of him for Arsenal or for England is so far wide of the mark its ridiculous. 

Joe Bennett has put in probably some of the worst individual performances in a Villa shirt for 20 years this season, his efforts last weekend could have relegated us alone. So much for learning from his mistakes. 

Ciaran Clark and Nathan Baker were given ample opportunity this season to lay down a marker to be a regular in the Villa first team for the forseeable future. None of them unfortunately grabbed it, the Chelsea annihilation seemed to send Clark back miles while Baker honest as he is, is so technically limited he makes James Collins seem like Franco Baresi reincarnated.

A lot to be positive about for next season. The Weimann, Benteke, Gabby attack seems one of the best in the league, Westwood and Delph are showing a lot of promise, Guzan has been a huge plus and our full backs can attack pretty well. But it goes without saying that some of the players in our squad are not of the standard required to push into the top half of the table. First area to strengthen must be at the back. Lescott would be a huge addition and improve us immeasurably back there. A versatile physically strong defender, Marc Wilson possibly, next as we cant rely on Bennett kicking on next season. An experienced player in the centre of the park capable of getting forward and scoring like Gareth Barry is also required. Up front we will need another player up there as Gabby and Weimann can verge from the sublime to the ridiculous from week to week.

Going to be tough to shift the likes of Given, Bent, Ireland, Nzogbia to make room for the new players. One of the promoted clubs will go for Given I reckon, Reading proved this year that you have no business coming up to the top division without a decent keeper. Id say we are stuck with Ireland, I didnt see the Wigan defeat which seems to have been the end for him with Lambert but on the Bradford game alone bit harsh that he has been made the scapegoat for that one. He seems to have no heart about him though on the pitch and its a big pity because we have a role for an attacking midfielder in our side. Maybe on an improving side he might do ok, he was terrible in a struggling one.

Someone will come in for Bent and Nzogbia but we will be taking huge losses on them both. Best to use for trades I reckon. The likes of the Fonz, Albrighton, Stevens, Bannan, Herd, Clark/Baker will find clubs in the second tier if they want and like Ridgewell or Whittingham build their careers from there.

To cut it short, in your opinion, out of a squad of about 25, only 5-6 are good enough! Really?

The goals against is massively impacted by the 20 goals conceded in only 4 games, of which Vlar did not play in any? Our performances since late January have been, overall very good & recently results have started to match the performances. We do not need wholesale changes, moving out those who don't / won't contribute & replacing them with a mixture of youth & experience will put us in a good position to move forward.

[supertom]

Vlaar hasn't set the world alight. In part due to injuries, and also in part he's had a hell of a lot of pressure coming in and suddenly being the senior man at the back in his maiden Premiership year.

I don't think he's ever gonna be a Laursen, or even a Mellberg. However he's good enough to be the number 2. What we need is a leader and organiser at the back, like Laursen was. We need a first choice centre half who can keep these kids organised, alert. Someone who'll pull a full back, back into position if he's drifting. Fire a few rockets around if someones nodded off and isn't holding the line.

Ron's getting better though. Helped by the fact that he's getting a run of games. Good enough for the first 11. Not good enough to be leading the backline. If we get a top quality centre half in who can organise things on the pitch, then Vlaar will get better, or Baker/Clark if they're playing. The fullbacks will benefit too.

[Percy McCarthy]

Dave, how is his fitness these days, good solid left back. Got to say probably hardest position to pick in my best ever Villa XI

 George Cunnings. Sorted.

I thought I was an old brastrad

I'm not old enough to remember him, but old enough for  my eyes to be fucked.

[barrysleftfoot]

 Was'nt it George Cummings?........my dads favourite Villa player.

 Frank Barson in central defence?

[Dave]

Of that list, Turnbull, if Given goes, might be worth a look.

I think there are much better keepers on that list to be looking at. I'd much rather throw a two-year contract at say, Mickael Landreau or Michael Rensing than Turnbull.

Also, if we want a bit of cheap experience to supplement the youth coming through, I'd have no problems with someone like Carvalho, Metzelder or Van Buyten coming in for a year or two.

[Mazrim]

Yes, or Abidal.

[Bully2345]

Ross Turnbull robs a living

[ronshirt]

Ross Turnbull is Fred's grandson I think.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Did I notice a certain BOUMA on that list 
Turnnall really is gash. Hopefully Siegrist will be loaned out soon

[Bishop Brennan]

I would rather we resign Lee Turnball and put him in.

Blimey, that's a blast from the past. Sir Graham's first ever signing I think? Did bugger all though......

Bish

[Mazrim]

Hello Len.

[Hoppo]

You may be right Bish. I'm sure I remember him coming on as a sub on a Wednesday night against Blackburn. Steve Sims being Baresi before Baresi.

[Bishop Brennan]

You may be right Bish. I'm sure I remember him coming on as a sub on a Wednesday night against Blackburn. Steve Sims being Baresi before Baresi.

Yep, I'm pretty sure it was either Turnbull or another Lee, the Lincoln keeper Butler who was the first GT signing.

Bish

[dave.woodhall]

Hello Len.

Less of your cheek y'little bollox.