Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[Malandro]

I imagine we want Bent gone more for his age, wages and value than his footballing skills.

It makes sense.

[Mazrim]

I'm a big fan of Bent but him leaving isnt a case of not needing him but not making best use of him considering his great expense.
So I'm disappointed to see him go but I can understand why. Our system isn't set up for him although he would still score goals, and he needs to be playing.

I'm fairly sure Benteke will be here for at least another season but if he were to leave there are more suitable alternatives. We could throw money at Chelsea for Lukaku or take him on loan maybe. It would be nice to have them both of course but that will never happen.

[Concrete John]

The 433 or 4231 suits the rest of our players so well though.

Bent has to play in a 442. Hardly anyone plays 442 for a reason.hats why players like bent and Michael Owen are increasingly finding it difficult.

He could be a good fit for a Fulham because Berbatov can play the number ten role and help them build attacks with his back to goal.

We were having this debate about bent before benteke arrived. It was no coincidence that our best performance under McLeish was at Chelsea, where gabby was up front.

Bent made his name playing in a 4-5-1 at Charlton and also played upfront on his own in his first season here under Houllier.  Thing with him is he offers very little in terms on contribution to the build up play, so you have to compensate for that, as we did by having Ash behind him and Downing wide getting crosses in.

So, in the VERY unlikely case of Benteke going and him staying, we'd need to spend on some attacking midfielders to feed him.  Problem with that is are we strong enough in the centre midfield area to to so?     

[olaftab]

We've lost our Head Groundsman to PSG, does that count as a transfer? Did a great job tbf. Good luck to him.

Once again we can't seem to hold on to world class talent! These mega rich clubs keep plundering us at will.

[Matt Collins]

I agree. And I think the answer is no. Buying a target man will be much easier than completely reconfiguring the way we play.

You can play Bent on his own if a) you have a superb midfield youcan play through without needing to hit the front man (villa were part way there under Houllier, but we still had problems  'making the play' with Bent or b) you're prepared to see little of the ball (Charlton).

[Greg N'Ash]

If Bent and Benteke went would Lerner fund the money for someone like Lukaku. The fee maybe but the wages? I'm sure he's not on peanuts now and if he is, he'll certainly want big money now. The wages is still the problem so flogging Benteke and then buying his slightly shitter teammate on double the wages may not be on the agenda. My guess is we'll be looking abroad again for another Benteke and the problem with that is unproven players from abroad are a big risk even with Lambert's good record so far.

Given Gabby isn't prolific, and Wiemann hasn't hit double figures yet' i'd rather keep Bent at least until we see if a new guy came off. We're not going to make a fortune on him anyway and its likely the clubs who'd want him will be the sort of club we'll be battling with in the bottom half.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Tokoyo

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

But Benteke defines the way we play - if we don't have him (or a player like him), we'd have to play a different system - maybe one that suits Bent.

[TheSandman]

We've lost our Head Groundsman to PSG, does that count as a transfer? Did a great job tbf. Good luck to him.

I hope we got a big fee.

[Doorbell]

Dries Martens rumour has popped up a couple of times on my twatter feed, anyone know where this link is coming from?

[LeeB]

Dries Martens rumour has popped up a couple of times on my twatter feed, anyone know where this link is coming from?

Belgium?

[Toronto Villa]

Dries Martens rumour has popped up a couple of times on my twatter feed, anyone know where this link is coming from?

I'll take a couple of dry Martini's please.

ps. Dries Mertens

[Doorbell]

Dries Martens rumour has popped up a couple of times on my twatter feed, anyone know where this link is coming from?

I'll take a couple of dry Martini's please.

ps. Dries Mertens

 

[Mister E]

Dries Martens rumour has popped up a couple of times on my twatter feed, anyone know where this link is coming from?

I'll take a couple of dry Martini's please.

ps. Dries Mertens

Hee, hee. Good one.

[Mister E]

Bent's transfer history is one where he seems to exit clubs every 24-30 months ...

[Mazrim]

Mertens is very highly rated. That would be an exciting link.