Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[pauliewalnuts]

I think N'Zogbia is a talented player but also a confidence player, who hasn't really done it for us.

Given the choice, I'd keep him, but I suspect the infrequency with which he has been used this season combined with what will no doubt be a high salary will see him moved on, which I can also understand.

He seems to have a very similar problem to Albrighton (another one to move on?) in that he'll do lots of decent work, but is let down by poor decision making - when to shoot, when to pass, when to cross etc, so just runs into brick walls.

[godzvilla]

I'm hoping GG can have a big impact next season, especially as our system incorporates 3 central midfielders.

I,m hoping he has spent a good deal of his time in Rehab building up his body strength , he,s always looked a tad lightweight to me ....ditto that other forgotten man Mark Albrighton ...................Godzvilla!

[manic-road]

I think Bowery should be loaned out, as he's not ready to start in the Premier League.

Your judging a player on the few minutes you have seen him play or are you privy to attending regular training sessions at Bodymoor Heath?

[PaulWinch again]

I think Bowery should be loaned out, as he's not ready to start in the Premier League.

Your judging a player on the few minutes you have seen him play or are you privy to attending regular training sessions at Bodymoor Heath?

I'm judging him on the few minutes I've seen him play and the fact that Lambert has used him sparingly and he does see him in regular training sessions at Bodymoor Heath.

It's not a criticism as such, but he doesn't look ready to be a regular starter in the Premier League and therefore at his age he'd benefit from playing regular football.

[supertom]

I think Bowery should be loaned out, as he's not ready to start in the Premier League.

Your judging a player on the few minutes you have seen him play or are you privy to attending regular training sessions at Bodymoor Heath?

I'm judging him on the few minutes I've seen him play and the fact that Lambert has used him sparingly and he does see him in regular training sessions at Bodymoor Heath.

It's not a criticism as such, but he doesn't look ready to be a regular starter in the Premier League and therefore at his age he'd benefit from playing regular football.

I'd have to agree with this. Though Bowery has played out of position in his limited time, which hasn't helped, I would be very worried if 1-2 of our front men got injured and he was thrown in to the mix or a few weeks.
It's a huge step up so I'd loan him out to the Championship until Jan (with option to call back). If he gets picked regularly at that level, and does well, it will help him when he comes back here.

We still need 1-2 decent attacking options to compete with our current front 3 as Bent is seemingly leaving.

[manic-road]

I think Bowery should be loaned out, as he's not ready to start in the Premier League.

Your judging a player on the few minutes you have seen him play or are you privy to attending regular training sessions at Bodymoor Heath?

I'm judging him on the few minutes I've seen him play and the fact that Lambert has used him sparingly and he does see him in regular training sessions at Bodymoor Heath.

It's not a criticism as such, but he doesn't look ready to be a regular starter in the Premier League and therefore at his age he'd benefit from playing regular football.

He has been used sparingly because of the form Benteke has been in, I think it's harsh to judge a player so soon after being played out of position.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Bowery should be loaned out, as he's not ready to start in the Premier League.

Your judging a player on the few minutes you have seen him play or are you privy to attending regular training sessions at Bodymoor Heath?

I'm judging him on the few minutes I've seen him play and the fact that Lambert has used him sparingly and he does see him in regular training sessions at Bodymoor Heath.

It's not a criticism as such, but he doesn't look ready to be a regular starter in the Premier League and therefore at his age he'd benefit from playing regular football.

He has been used sparingly because of the form Benteke has been in, I think it's harsh to judge a player so soon after being played out of position.

I just don't think there is anyway that Bowery at his current stage of development could be relied upon to be a starting centre forward in the Premier League for anything more than a game or two. That's not a criticism, he's a young player who needs to play games and he's not ready at this level.

[eamonn]

West Ham are signing Romania's left back, Razvan Rat from Shakhtar on a free. Apart from having the best name in football, the fella is quality. Over 50 games in the Champions League, nearly 100 caps for Romania. He's initially signed a one-year deal with an option of extending it. Would have been ideal to help mentor Bennett.

[Hoppo]

There is a piece going around on Given that we are looking to pay him off for £5mill. It would cost 9mill for his contract to run. I'm lost for words.

[MoetVillan]

I like Bowery, he is keen, wants to play, and plays with discipline where he is put (I couldnt see the Fonz doing this).  Id be keeping him in the squad, better he is learning our way off the likes of Gabby, Andi and Benteke and most importantly the gaffer than elsewhere.  He can get experience in the reserves, and is there raring to go

[ozzjim]

There is a piece going around on Given that we are looking to pay him off for £5mill. It would cost 9mill for his contract to run. I'm lost for words.

Surely offering him on a free and subsidising 20k a week of his next contract would be more financially sensible than paying out 5m to get shot of him. A truly head scratching contract.

[Holte L2]

A player like N'Zog should be scoring 1 in 4 minimum. He played 21 games this season in the league, scored 2 and had 4 assists. That's nothing near good enough. Granted it's Messi-esque compared to Ireland but for a 9.5mill valued player, you expect far more.
We have to flog him now whilst we can get a reasonable fee for him. The money we'd get and wages we'd save could go a long way for us.

Though he's only had 11 starts.  When you flip it around and say in 11 starts he's scored 2 and 4 assists that doesnt read too bad.  I agree, I'd expect more. But since Christmas his form has improved.  And we need attacking options. He's a good option to replace Gabby or Weimann. He's a good impact sub too and play in a few different midfield positons.  Still one to keep -unless we get offered too good a deal to turn down.

[ozzjim]

A player like N'Zog should be scoring 1 in 4 minimum. He played 21 games this season in the league, scored 2 and had 4 assists. That's nothing near good enough. Granted it's Messi-esque compared to Ireland but for a 9.5mill valued player, you expect far more.
We have to flog him now whilst we can get a reasonable fee for him. The money we'd get and wages we'd save could go a long way for us.

Though he's only had 11 starts.  When you flip it around and say in 11 starts he's scored 2 and 4 assists that doesnt read too bad.  I agree, I'd expect more. But since Christmas his form has improved.  And we need attacking options. He's a good option to replace Gabby or Weimann. He's a good impact sub too and play in a few different midfield positons.  Still one to keep -unless we get offered too good a deal to turn down.

I have to say his attitude to being a sub and being used by Lambert in different ways has been first class too. Very unlucky not to be in over Weimann last few games, although workrate is the contributing factor. If he played every week in that front 3 he would get 10 plus goals and assists a season.

[pauliewalnuts]

West Ham are signing Romania's left back, Razvan Rat from Shakhtar on a free. Apart from having the best name in football, the fella is quality.

That reminds me of one of my favourite pieces of football commentary.

France v Russia in (I think) 1986. Striker Vasily Rats scores past French keeper Joel Bats, and Motson screams "Rats beats Bats!"

[Concrete John]

West Ham are signing Romania's left back, Razvan Rat from Shakhtar on a free. Apart from having the best name in football, the fella is quality. Over 50 games in the Champions League, nearly 100 caps for Romania. He's initially signed a one-year deal with an option of extending it. Would have been ideal to help mentor Bennett.

32 and probably after that 'last big payday'.  Exactly the sort of player Lambert seems to want to avoid.

Plus, if he was as good as you suggest he wouldn't be going to West Ham and they'd be offering him more than a one year deal!