Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[cdbearsfan]

They couldn't afford his wages. If I was them I'd be saving my money for when their bigot brothers return and they have to compete again.

[Mazrim]

I genuinely believe that Herd can be a very useful right back. It's just that he hasn't had much opportunity there yet.
As back up to Lowton I have no problem with him at all.

If he had a good record of being available I would agree but he seems rather injury prone. PL also seems to use him as cover at centre back rather than right back.

I think that was more a case of emergency to be honest. And he didn't do too badly considering.
But, the injury record is something to keep an eye on.

[manic-road]

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

Jones is absolute shite anyway. No way.
With Benteke wanting out, I think Lambert and Lerners plan for unearthing young lower paid players has been found out to be flawed. If we want to improve we need to sign better players. Top players want to earn top money and play at the best sides.
Now that doesn't mean doing a MON and bringing in the Heskey, Harewood and Beye's when there are far superior players even in the non leagues. But to keep our top players like Benteke we need to compensate them appropriately. The young and hungry mantra is deeply flawed. Plenty of experienced players are still top quality players with buckets of desire to succeed and would add hugely to our team and squad. Lescott and Barry are cause celebres at this stage but they would hugely improve our first team if the price was right. I can't see how the price wouldn't be for both of those. It's all about getting the balance in the squad right, IMO Lambert got it desperately wrong for most of the campaign as the goals conceded column makes evidently clear.
Just hope Lambert isn't incredibly naive to the consistent asset stripping that Lerner has employed since MON left. Sure things had to change but if Benteke is replaced by a Troy Deeney this summer I'm afraid the notion of Villa as a club on the up will be just that.

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

Jones is absolute shite anyway. No way.
With Benteke wanting out, I think Lambert and Lerners plan for unearthing young lower paid players has been found out to be flawed. If we want to improve we need to sign better players. Top players want to earn top money and play at the best sides.
Now that doesn't mean doing a MON and bringing in the Heskey, Harewood and Beye's when there are far superior players even in the non leagues. But to keep our top players like Benteke we need to compensate them appropriately. The young and hungry mantra is deeply flawed. Plenty of experienced players are still top quality players with buckets of desire to succeed and would add hugely to our team and squad. Lescott and Barry are cause celebres at this stage but they would hugely improve our first team if the price was right. I can't see how the price wouldn't be for both of those. It's all about getting the balance in the squad right, IMO Lambert got it desperately wrong for most of the campaign as the goals conceded column makes evidently clear.
Just hope Lambert isn't incredibly naive to the consistent asset stripping that Lerner has employed since MON left. Sure things had to change but if Benteke is replaced by a Troy Deeney this summer I'm afraid the notion of Villa as a club on the up will be just that.

How is the young and hungry mantra found to be flawed? These inexperienced youngsters got more points than the previous way under TSM over a season. Dortmund went down the same approach of bringing in youngsters because they were about to go bust and that is a team that has eventually blossomed.
You can't achieve a top 6 team overnight unless you have bags of money.

[paul_e]

Villa would be barmy to let Bent go if there is any danger whatsoever that Benteke might go.  If Bent IS going, then I am presuming its because the club KNOW that Benteke is staying.

Also, just to clarify something.  I DO remember reading that Troy Deeney was actually linked with Villa a while back.  Can't remember where or who by though.

The only link is that our scouts have watched them a few times, there's been hints at us being interested in 3-4 Watford players (vydra and murray I can recall).

My response was mainly down to the:

If we sell him (which we will because we always do - fucking lerner)
If we replace him with {insert player you don't rate}
and
If we're shit next year then...

There's a bunch of dubious IFs there and it's all very ranty - 1 week after the season has finished with no transfer dealings done.  I just don't understand why someone would want to think that way, it's glorifying in potential misery.

[stubbsyandy]

Lots of people saying great things about Dortmund...have you noticed they are selling at least two of their best players?
Its the way of the world and we can't keep calling our club small or slagging them off when we know if a player wants to go, he will.

[rob_bridge]

Lots of people saying great things about Dortmund...have you noticed they are selling at least two of their best players?
Its the way of the world and we can't keep calling our club small or slagging them off when we know if a player wants to go, he will.

I'd rather be in their position comparatively speaking than ours

[DB]

Lots of people saying great things about Dortmund...have you noticed they are selling at least two of their best players?
Its the way of the world and we can't keep calling our club small or slagging them off when we know if a player wants to go, he will.

I'd rather be in their position comparatively speaking than ours

There squad only cost £30million too. Well done to them. Hope they win on Sat - gives hope us 'poorer' clubs.

[Damo70]

Villa would be barmy to let Bent go if there is any danger whatsoever that Benteke might go.  If Bent IS going, then I am presuming its because the club KNOW that Benteke is staying.

Also, just to clarify something.  I DO remember reading that Troy Deeney was actually linked with Villa a while back.  Can't remember where or who by though.

Deeney has been linked with a move to Villa more than once in recent months. Possibly more likely, Cresswell is being linked with us again after confirmed interest from us last summer.

[Damo70]

Lots of people saying great things about Dortmund...have you noticed they are selling at least two of their best players?
Its the way of the world and we can't keep calling our club small or slagging them off when we know if a player wants to go, he will.

When you say they are selling at least two or their best players it would be fair to point out that they have so far sold one player, where the decision was out of their hands due to a (thirty million plus) buy out clause being activated. The upside to that is they are now in a very good position to either keep the rest of their players or demand top dollar (or euro) for anyone else they choose to sell for the right price.

[Matt C]

Lukaku would be a great replacement for Bent.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Like someone said earlier, if we sell Benteke, we should keep Bent - that is, unless Lambert has some other unheralded striker on his radar.

[Rudy65]

Tokoyo

Bent is a different player and doesnt suit the way we play under Lambert. He will leave whatever happens with Benteke

[Matt Collins]

I agree. He can't play in our system

[supertom]

Bent is irrelevant to what happens with Tekkers. Bent can't play in the system that works for Lambert. He's going to move whatever happens.
I'd also trust Lambert and his scouts to get an adequate replacement for Benteke. They wont get anyone as good, I'm sure of that. Players like CB come along very rarely to clubs who don't consistently challenge for major honours. But if Benteke did leave, I'd trust Lambert to bring in a forward who could score 15 odd a season.

I'd also expect him to add some goals to our midfield for next season too.

[Concrete Tom]

Villa would be barmy to let Bent go if there is any danger whatsoever that Benteke might go.  If Bent IS going, then I am presuming its because the club KNOW that Benteke is staying.

Also, just to clarify something.  I DO remember reading that Troy Deeney was actually linked with Villa a while back.  Can't remember where or who by though.

Deeney has been linked with a move to Villa more than once in recent months. Possibly more likely, Cresswell is being linked with us again after confirmed interest from us last summer.

I have been to quite a few Watford games this season as Watford is my current home:

Deeney would seem to be and unlikely signing to me as he obviously loves his current club, who, alongside the 'Orns fans have stuck by him during a difficult (self inflicted) time. He works his socks off for the team and has scored some vital goals but is still prone to a few silly, petulant mistakes. Although he is from Brum and had a spell in our youth system, I thought he was a Blues fan?

Vydra has been poor in the second half of the season. To be fair, he came back from serious injury last seaon and was only expected to play 30 games this season. Murray has completely dropped off of the radar following injury and the influx of loanees.