Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[Greg N'Ash]

As others have said, whatever the abilities of Lescott, he's not coming. It would cost a fortune in wages to bring him here and Citeh will have to pay him something to leave, so you'd have an ageing defender on big wages who doesn't particulary want to be here - isn't that how Dunne arrived?

[Matt Collins]

Ryan Shawcross? Douglas? James Chester?

I just watched the Wigan highlights. Fucking hell our defence is bad.

My biggest concern is that whoever we get in, it's the lack of organisation and shape that is as much the problem. You wonder about the coaching

[manic-road]

Judging by Paul Lamberts comments on the footballers football show tonight he wont be buying experienced players in, only players who want to play for the shirt.

[Greg N'Ash]

Judging by Paul Lamberts comments on the footballers football show tonight he wont be buying experienced players in, only players who want to play for the shirt.

Seems a very dodgy philosophy to me. I understand we can't or won't pay  50k a week wages but we should be able to afford experienced players surely, and we need them.

[Mazrim]

I have a feeling we might go for Dragovic. Ticks all the boxes really.
And I'd definitely go for Lescott to partner him.

Lowton, Dragovic, Lescott (or Douglas), Creswell (or Bertrand).

[Damo70]

Judging by Paul Lamberts comments on the footballers football show tonight he wont be buying experienced players in, only players who want to play for the shirt.

That was the gist of what he said, but I don't think the two things are mutually exclusive. He alluded to players whose first question is how much is in it for them financially. I would suspect that as a Villa fan from the Midlands who is already a millionaire Lescott would be up for the move. The question would be his hunger/desire for the challenge. Based on what I heard from him tonight I would trust Paul Lambert to judge that. Bearing in mind there is a world cup in a year and Lescott still has a fighting chance of being there if he plays regularly.

[SoccerHQ]

Am i the only one who thinks that Holman can look useful at times? Around november time he was well thought of by most on here i seem to recall?

Yeah Holman looked good the first few weeks against Newcastle and Swansea. Another who seemed to lose his way during 15-0, he came on against WBA with 20 minutes left and pretty sure he didn't touch the ball in that spell and was used sparingly after that.

Maybe a Palace or Hull will come in for him, I'd probably let him go tbh.

[SoccerHQ]

Ryan Shawcross? Douglas? James Chester?

I just watched the Wigan highlights. Fucking hell our defence is bad.

My biggest concern is that whoever we get in, it's the lack of organisation and shape that is as much the problem. You wonder about the coaching

Shawcross has a long term contract at Stoke. Sort of player MON would've signed.

Chester. Fits the profile of what we've signed in the last year, might stick around at Hull now they're up.

Douglas. Were linked with him last summer and he's on a free. Could be a target.

I'd be very happy if our 3 defensive signings this summer were Lescott, Maynor Figueroa and Russell Martin. Martin looks the most likely as the other two are around 30 but then again defenders improve later with age more than in the other positions so would be just the wage issues.

[Greg N'Ash]

I do like Lescott but i just can't see it unless we took him on loan. He cost them over 20m and must be on 90k a week or more.  Add to that he's 31 in August.

Nah.

[SoccerHQ]

N'zonzi put in a transfer request at Stoke, anyone want him?

I personally think he's a clogger, Diame is a much better player imo.

[Mazrim]

Never rated him. A big fucking lummox.
Ideal for the club he's at. No doubt he'll head straight to the next best thing: West Ham.

[villa kicks]

By all accounts Lambert signs players with non prem experience and not massively known. Vlaar an expection. January saw dawkins and sylla 2 players no one had mentioned and not so familiar with. i imagine the same will apply again. Dale Jennings is someone who having been with Bayern is being released back to England. Previously at Tranmere a young hungry player with attacking instinct. Will offer the  width i have been mentioning -from the 2 wingers plus 6 others we need in. Definitely can see the Jennings move as a positive capture. Lambert and Jennings both at Wembley sat maybe a deal can be done..   

[Steve R]

The bit about 'play for the shirt' does not exclude older players. If we put a 32 year old out of league 2 in the team he'd run his bollocks off, just as Dave Simmons once did.

The real problem is that for some, money is a reason for signing but not a reason for playing. We need players for whom Villa represents genuine opportunity, one way or another.

Right now, moving to VP from almost any PL side, for an 'experienced player', is not a sufficient step up. But it might be for players based abroad. Whatever can be said about the success of Vlaar, Holman and KEA, they haven't been found wanting when it comes to commitment.

There are exceptions to not buying from other PL clubs, Lescott may well be one of them.

I'm not sure about value for money, given his age, but I'd be very confident he wouldn't see VP as a place to turn money over and nothing else.

[Matt Collins]

If benteke did go, I wonder who we'd be looking at? Presumably someone of a similar ilk. Lukaku on loan is an obvious shout if not entirely satisfactory

Wilfred bony? He doesn't quite seem the target man type. Gomis? Kenwyne jones? Jordan Rhodes?

Probably best not to start getting into all this, I just hope the club are identifying targets

[rooboy316]

If benteke did go, I wonder who we'd be looking at? Presumably someone of a similar ilk. Lukaku on loan is an obvious shout if not entirely satisfactory

Wilfred bony? He doesn't quite seem the target man type. Gomis? Kenwyne jones? Jordan Rhodes?

Probably best not to start getting into all this, I just hope the club are identifying targets

IF, and that's still a big if, he goes, it'll have to be a big signing to compensate for the massive hole he will leave.