Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[danlanza]

Perhaps we could send Al-Ahmadi and Vlaar back to Feyenood and swap them out for Jordy Clasie and or Lex Immers. I still remain to be convinced about Vlaar and believe that we should cut our losses. Although Feyenoord would be reluctant to sell Clasie, I do believe that dangling the carrot of a swift return of a club hero may sway them. Al Ahmadi too is also very highly thought of by Feyenoorders and would also prove a good carrot.

I think Vlaar has been the best of our CBs this season, although that's not saying much.

He should be fine alongside the experienced and physical CB we've needed all season, IF Lambert gets one this summer.

WHEN Lambert gets one.

[paul_e]

Again, as I've posted elsewhere, the worry with letting people like Vlaar go for being ok but a bit inconsistent is that we'd be back at square one with another season to come of players getting used to each other and us finding out how to best use them.

This summer we need to identify 15-20 players in the squad who've done enough to keep hold of and then look to offload and/or upgrade the rest.  I think Vlaar definitely fits in that 15-20 so we hold onto him unless we get an offer too good to refuse.

I still think his biggest problem has been the fact that he's been one of the senior players in the squad in his first season after a big step up the leagues and at times that pressure has probably been too much.  If Dunne had been available for 15-20games I think Vlaar would've been much more solid and it would have helped clark and baker a lot as well and I'm sure Lambert has the same regrets.

[danno]

Again, as I've posted elsewhere, the worry with letting people like Vlaar go for being ok but a bit inconsistent is that we'd be back at square one with another season to come of players getting used to each other and us finding out how to best use them.

This summer we need to identify 15-20 players in the squad who've done enough to keep hold of and then look to offload and/or upgrade the rest.  I think Vlaar definitely fits in that 15-20 so we hold onto him unless we get an offer too good to refuse.

I still think his biggest problem has been the fact that he's been one of the senior players in the squad in his first season after a big step up the leagues and at times that pressure has probably been too much.  If Dunne had been available for 15-20games I think Vlaar would've been much more solid and it would have helped clark and baker a lot as well and I'm sure Lambert has the same regrets.

I agree with that, as there are question marks over a lot of players already.
Lichaj, Dunne, Ireland, Albighton, Bent, Dawkins, Hutton.

Even if only those players left, that's still seven new players to try and find.

[eamonn]

Ultimately it comes down to how good their names sound. And as impressive a handle as "Ron Vlaar" is, Lex Immers is on another level. => Lex Luther it is. Fearless towards everything but kryptonite... and concrete.

[paul_e]

Again, as I've posted elsewhere, the worry with letting people like Vlaar go for being ok but a bit inconsistent is that we'd be back at square one with another season to come of players getting used to each other and us finding out how to best use them.

This summer we need to identify 15-20 players in the squad who've done enough to keep hold of and then look to offload and/or upgrade the rest.  I think Vlaar definitely fits in that 15-20 so we hold onto him unless we get an offer too good to refuse.

I still think his biggest problem has been the fact that he's been one of the senior players in the squad in his first season after a big step up the leagues and at times that pressure has probably been too much.  If Dunne had been available for 15-20games I think Vlaar would've been much more solid and it would have helped clark and baker a lot as well and I'm sure Lambert has the same regrets.

I agree with that, as there are question marks over a lot of players already.
Lichaj, Dunne, Ireland, Albighton, Bent, Dawkins, Hutton.

Even if only those players left, that's still seven new players to try and find.

You can add Given, Nzogbia, Holman, KEA and Bannan as well I reckon, there's a fair number of people who'd be happy to see all the players we've named leave.  I do worry that a lot of fans would be happy to see us keep about 10 players and completely rebuild the squad again, for me that route is madness, we've been an unstable mess of a club for 3 years, we need to address that this summer and get a bit of stability for everyone.

[tomd2103]

Again, as I've posted elsewhere, the worry with letting people like Vlaar go for being ok but a bit inconsistent is that we'd be back at square one with another season to come of players getting used to each other and us finding out how to best use them.

This summer we need to identify 15-20 players in the squad who've done enough to keep hold of and then look to offload and/or upgrade the rest.  I think Vlaar definitely fits in that 15-20 so we hold onto him unless we get an offer too good to refuse.

I still think his biggest problem has been the fact that he's been one of the senior players in the squad in his first season after a big step up the leagues and at times that pressure has probably been too much.  If Dunne had been available for 15-20games I think Vlaar would've been much more solid and it would have helped clark and baker a lot as well and I'm sure Lambert has the same regrets.

I agree with that, as there are question marks over a lot of players already.
Lichaj, Dunne, Ireland, Albighton, Bent, Dawkins, Hutton.

Even if only those players left, that's still seven new players to try and find.

How many of those have featured regularly anyway?  Out of that list, I would probably keep Albrighton and add Given.   

[danno]

Again, as I've posted elsewhere, the worry with letting people like Vlaar go for being ok but a bit inconsistent is that we'd be back at square one with another season to come of players getting used to each other and us finding out how to best use them.

This summer we need to identify 15-20 players in the squad who've done enough to keep hold of and then look to offload and/or upgrade the rest.  I think Vlaar definitely fits in that 15-20 so we hold onto him unless we get an offer too good to refuse.

I still think his biggest problem has been the fact that he's been one of the senior players in the squad in his first season after a big step up the leagues and at times that pressure has probably been too much.  If Dunne had been available for 15-20games I think Vlaar would've been much more solid and it would have helped clark and baker a lot as well and I'm sure Lambert has the same regrets.

I agree with that, as there are question marks over a lot of players already.
Lichaj, Dunne, Ireland, Albighton, Bent, Dawkins, Hutton.

Even if only those players left, that's still seven new players to try and find.

You can add Given, Nzogbia, Holman, KEA and Bannan as well I reckon, there's a fair number of people who'd be happy to see all the players we've named leave.  I do worry that a lot of fans would be happy to see us keep about 10 players and completely rebuild the squad again, for me that route is madness, we've been an unstable mess of a club for 3 years, we need to address that this summer and get a bit of stability for everyone.

Even if all twelve were up for sale, its unlikely we'd get suitable offers for all of them.
In all likelihood Dawkins and Dunne won't get new deals. Hutton is as good as gone, Ireland never arrived...
I could see four coming in and those four leaving.

The mass cull, I don't think it would be too risky if its players that aren't featuring getting the chop.
Although I doubt we could afford to overhaul the squad to that extreme (ten in ten out) anyway.

[supertom]

If Sunderland went down I'd be tempted by Craig on the cheap. He's not exactly Lionel but he's better than what we have and is capable of getting you 5-10 from midfield, something we're sorely lacking. I think slipping him in along with Westy and Delph in a 3 man would be pretty good. Gary would push for a place too next year I hope.
5 mill tops though. Any more than that and we take our chances on a foreign signing and hope for better. Craig has plenty of experience now though.

[PaulWinch again]

I don't think Craig Gardner is better than what we have.

[N'Zimidy]

Gardner is dog shit on a stick.

We've got much better players and even those players are of questionable ability whether they'll make it here.

[OCD]

We have enough very average midfielders who struggle to get into the team. I would much prefer 1 truly quality midfielder who can be a lynchpin for years to come to go along the likes of Westwood, Delph.

[ozzjim]

I like the look of that Fer guy Everton wanted but failed his medical. Using Demba Ba as an example, it might be worth having a look at the injury to  see to bad it was.

[eamonn]

Fer or Ba wouldn't please the commercial dept when looking at money made from name-printing.

[paul_e]

Fer or Ba wouldn't please the commercial dept when looking at money made from name-printing.

A key concern when we sign players!

[Concrete John]

Fer or Ba wouldn't please the commercial dept when looking at money made from name-printing.

A key concern when we sign players!

Probably also why we've never sold Agbonglahor.