Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[Irish villain]

I don't see the point in going for Maloney. I'm making four assumptions:we need a player who can play up front on his own if Benteke is injured/suspended/rested. However, the player needs to be equally adept playing wide to compete for a starting place with Weimann and Agbonlahor.

Considering how good he was there for a while under O'Neill, I'd say the player that you describe above IS Agbonlahor.

I'd much rather the money spent on the above go towards a wide-player, hopefully one capable of playing on either wing in the same way that Young was.

Then it would be Benteke, Gabby and maybe Bowery for the spot in the middle and then Gabby, Weimann and AN Other for the two wide positions, supplemented by the likes of Albrighton and the next generation of youth players.

Not convinced. Agbonlahor has spent his entire career having the odd purple patch and lots of droughts where it looks like his best days are behind him. He's been good for the last few weeks but was getting plenty of stick even as recently as March.

If ever Benteke gets injured, I wouldn't want to see him as our main scoring option. I also think he's too small to play as a lone forward (or in a 4-3-3). His best days under O'Neill were when he had Carew alongside him.

Notice when Benteke went off on Saturday we seemed devoid of ideas without, at least, the option of a target man to aim for. There seems very little point in playing with two wide players if you don't have an aerial threat.

I'm not suggesting we should start playing like Stoke, I do think we need the option of a bloke who's dominating in the air up front though, and I'm not convinced Gabby's it. Betting on Gabby being Good Gabby rather than Mediocre Gabby is too much of a gamble for me.

I disagree. Gabby's best days with MON were as a lone forward in the 4-5-1. Unplayable at times.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

Assuming we stay up...

I think we'll see Bent, Given, Dunne, Bannan, Delfouneso, Makoun and Ireland go off the wage bill as well as Stan of course.

If we can bring in the right quality of players I like to see Stevens, Carruthers and Bowery go out on loan. If we can buy a bloody good central defender too I would consider letting either Baker or Clark go out on loan to a top end Championship club for the first couple of months of the season.

I can't see no more than 4/5 players coming in. I'd like us to get Lescott, I think he'll bring us experience and he has a good pedigree. Wages are obviously an isssue but if he was prepared to come for the same money as Vlaar then I think it is a no brainer. We would pretty much have two captains at the back which I think would help. Part of our defensive frailties this season I believe have been down to the fact our captain has always been the defensive organiser as well as the captain. If we allowed say Vlaar to captain the side, and gave new signing Lescott the responsibility of the organisation of the defence we'd fair better.

Left back is a concern I feel, I like Joe Bennett, I think there's a bloody good footballer in there but I honestly don't think he's a LB. He reminds me a little of Bale, a good footballer with the ball at his feet. For me, I'd be looking at using him a little further up the pitch and look at bringing in a LB. I've not seen much of this lad at Ipswich but maybe he is the answer. Alternatively, how about that Dutch lad who plays for Man Utd on loan...Buttner is it? If Moyes signs Bains he'll have him and Evra fighting over a LB position.

Hopefully with Ireland and Bannan gone as well as Stan retiring a central midfield player should be a distinct possibility. One player who always impresses me is Hoolahan of Norwich. He always looks busy, makes good runs, scores a few and works bloody hard. Of course he'll know Lambert as well which may help him to come to Villa Park. I think Westwood/Delph/Silla/(a fit)Gardner/Herd/Hoolahan is definitely an upgrade on this seasons midfield options.

No doubt Lambert will have one or two players in mind that we know little about as well. I like the fact that he has unearthed a gem in Benteke, and Sylla seems to be growing in stature and confidence every single game. A couple of players like that wouldn't go amiss.
 

[Salsa Party Animal]

If we sign another striker we need someone who can play with Gaby, Benteke and Weimann (and possibly Bent) and without Benteke.

[barrysleftfoot]

 Whats your thoughts on Alcazeres?

 Has'nt looked too bad tonight, and Wigans no 4 could be a very,very good player, a bit too negative atm, but could be very good.

[Summers]

Whelan wants 10m-15m for McCarthy (#4). Forget that!

[supertom]

I wouldn't have anyone from Wigan to be honest. Think we can unearth players as good as, if not better, than what they have for cheaper. As seen, Whelan, regardless of them being down, is gonna quote silly prices. McCarthy is an okay player, nothing more. Maloney is one of their best players and there's no way he should come back here at his age and in part, history with us.

If we're gonna spend say 10 mill on one player, then perhaps prizing Milney away from City would be more sensible.

[barrysleftfoot]

 Well he won't get it now.

 But he will be worth that, and more in a couple of years time.Reminds me of Stevie G.

[SoccerHQ]

I'd give Scharner a one year deal tbh. Always liked him and I think he's a decent centre half who can also play at RB or DM.

Can't see him being on Lambert's radar though. Kone maybe as he's the same age as Clint Dempsey and I think he'd fit well into our attack.

[Toronto Villa]

let the rebuilding begin!!!!!

[The Left Side]

Whelan wants 10m-15m for McCarthy (#4). Forget that!

Whelan won't let him come to us, we are a small club... he can only go to Manure.

[gervilla]

I'd give Scharner a one year deal tbh. Always liked him and I think he's a decent centre half who can also play at RB or DM.

Can't see him being on Lambert's radar though. Kone maybe as he's the same age as Clint Dempsey and I think he'd fit well into our attack.

At fault for a couple of goals tonight. He is a liability at the best of times.
No ta.

[oldtimernow]

I'd give Scharner a one year deal tbh. Always liked him and I think he's a decent centre half who can also play at RB or DM.

Can't see him being on Lambert's radar though. Kone maybe as he's the same age as Clint Dempsey and I think he'd fit well into our attack.

After tonight's performance I hope not Scharner strolled around half heartedly until the last few minutes when he went glory hunting

[oldtimernow]

Whoever buys Di Santo will be facing relegation next year

[jonzy85]

Scharner??? Alcaraz???

Both have been mentioned above!

Steady on! Wigan's defence is patethic. We should and will leave well alone.

McCarthy would be great, but I think we could face competition from teams sitting ahead of us in the league.

Nice to  talking about this s***e knowing that we are 100% in the Premier League!

[VILLA MOLE]

I want alot of players in who i have never heard of , it seems to work and is quite exciting