Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[claretandbeer]

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I think Liverpool will be pushing top 4 next season. They started from a higher base than us with their squad, but Rodgers has done as well as Lambert there to change it and refresh things.

Chelsea, United, City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs are nailed on the top 6 next season. Anywhere between 7th and 10th will be a very decent season for us.
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Totally agree,Everton might be hard to catch but Liverpool I also think will be looking at top 4.

[villan from luton]

Yop 5 will be the top 5 again with Liverpool pushing. Other than that, I really think Lambert can get this team to compete

[ozzjim]

Progress is to get 5-6 players who are on an equal level or better than the first team, create genuine competition and options and depth for injuries and form, and beat the mid table sides at VP. 8-10 home wins would be a nice target. We have won 5 this season. Turning that into 8 would be possible. Getting 8-10 points from the 10 games against that top 5 would be nice too.

[neo_Villan]

Top 4 will be harder then ever to break into. Even Arsenal, who can be considered the weakest of them, look like they will spend big this summer. 

[tomd2103]

Not transfer speculatuion, but an interesting tweet from a football writer at the Guardian regarding Roy Hodgson mentioning Lowton and Westwood:   


https://mobile.twitter.com/DTguardian/status/334814348625190912?p=v

[peter w]

I think we all knew this was going to be the way we went. Look at his hit rate so far and what their value to the club is now, in comparison to the last 7-8 bigger name comparisons, and how many of each walk into our side.

I would bet that you would get back 60 million plus on the signings he has made so far. Compare that against the huge losses you see on Bent, NZogbia, Ireland, Dunne, Hutton, Warnock, Makoun etc.

If it were my club, and my money, I would be looking at Lambert and thinking he is out ticket to financial security and stability.

But if you're not careful you'll turn into a Wigan eventually.

[ozzjim]

I think we all knew this was going to be the way we went. Look at his hit rate so far and what their value to the club is now, in comparison to the last 7-8 bigger name comparisons, and how many of each walk into our side.

I would bet that you would get back 60 million plus on the signings he has made so far. Compare that against the huge losses you see on Bent, NZogbia, Ireland, Dunne, Hutton, Warnock, Makoun etc.

If it were my club, and my money, I would be looking at Lambert and thinking he is out ticket to financial security and stability.

But if you're not careful you'll turn into a Wigan eventually.

That depends on the strategy. If Wigan buy their fair amount of journeymen from far flung places. If we are aiming at a core of talent coming through the lower leagues sprinkled with the odd bigger buy on someone we think might have the talent to be exceptional, the key will be to keep them for a sustained period. Obviously 1-2 players will go, but if you can keep the nucleus together over a period of time, then it can snowball into something better.

[tomd2103]

I think we all knew this was going to be the way we went. Look at his hit rate so far and what their value to the club is now, in comparison to the last 7-8 bigger name comparisons, and how many of each walk into our side.

I would bet that you would get back 60 million plus on the signings he has made so far. Compare that against the huge losses you see on Bent, NZogbia, Ireland, Dunne, Hutton, Warnock, Makoun etc.

If it were my club, and my money, I would be looking at Lambert and thinking he is out ticket to financial security and stability.

But if you're not careful you'll turn into a Wigan eventually.

That depends on the strategy. If Wigan buy their fair amount of journeymen from far flung places. If we are aiming at a core of talent coming through the lower leagues sprinkled with the odd bigger buy on someone we think might have the talent to be exceptional, the key will be to keep them for a sustained period. Obviously 1-2 players will go, but if you can keep the nucleus together over a period of time, then it can snowball into something better.

Problem is though Jim is what happens during the period of time in which we will be waiting for players to develop and what happens if the players never develop into anything decent?

[brontebilly]

Not transfer speculatuion, but an interesting tweet from a football writer at the Guardian regarding Roy Hodgson mentioning Lowton and Westwood:   


https://mobile.twitter.com/DTguardian/status/334814348625190912?p=v

Players to keep an eye on certainly but Lowton is a long way behind the likes of Johnson, Walker even Naughton I reckon. Fair play to Sheffield United, having brought through 3 of them. Walker hasnt had a great season but in his spell at Villa he looked in a different league to Lowton to be fair. Lowton needs to fill out a bit and improve in the air. He was beaten by crosses to the backpost all season.

Westwood has come on very nicely but behind Carrick, Lampard, Gerrard, Wilshere in the queue. He doesnt add to the lack of mobility in the English midfield which has been a problem since Hargreaves retired. Westwood isnt an option at all in a 442 at international level and I think has a long way to go to be getting involved.

The two players in our squad who I think should have been given a chance with England this summer are Gabby and Delph. If anyone had said that during January they would have been laughed at but both turned around their careers in spectacular style over the last few months. On form, Gabby should be in the English squad. Not the most skilfull of players but if England move to a 433 he should definitely be an option. Walcott probably ahead of him and a similar player but not sure how the likes of Carroll and Wellbeck are in the squad ahead of him.

Delph has mobility that no other English midfielder has. The ability to get away from players would be very useful in international tournaments. Capable of playing in a 2 man or 3 man midfield. I think Cleverley is a bit of a nothing player and Oxade Chamberlain has done nothing this season. if he can refine his tackling next season he should definitely be getting into that squad.

[eastie]

Gabby is not an England player in my opinion , granted he has has a good 3 months but he needs to do that over a longer period - Lowton and Westwood will both break into the squad eventually and I hope they don't then go the way of Milner and young .

To progress we need to hold onto our best players and add to the squad .

[not3bad]

I like the look of this guy - he's got a beard, like Peter Withe.

Charlie Austin

[eastie]

I like the look of this guy - he's got a beard, like Peter Withe.

Charlie Austin

Interesting one and prolific in that league although i remember saying similar about guy whittingham.

[ozzjim]

Right sort of size to be a good alternative if Tekkers is out. Young enough at 4 million to still have a good sell on value. Looks a good shout to me. Look at the likes of Rickie Lambert this season and Holt last, players can make that step up. Taking advantage of contract situations I would imagine is very much part of the strategy for buying.

[LeeB]

Right sort of size to be a good alternative if Tekkers is out. Young enough at 4 million to still have a good sell on value. Looks a good shout to me. Look at the likes of Rickie Lambert this season and Holt last, players can make that step up. Taking advantage of contract situations I would imagine is very much part of the strategy for buying.

Worked on a building site till a couple of years back, so I'd imagine he fits the profile regarding ambition and desire.

[Dante Lavelli]

With a lot of these lower league signings, I'd hope we can sweeten the deal by offering players on loan too. Financially cheaper and also develops out youngsters.