Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[Marlon From Bearwood]

Was told last night that yesterday Aaron Cresswell was seen on a train to Birmingham.

Oh God, it's summer again! Do footballers even get trains?!

Having said that, I think Cresswell and Luke Murphy are two of the more predictable signings of the summer.

I thought that, too.
But, you never know

They certainly do, if it's easier than a lengthy drive. The Man City and Wigan squads were both pictured taking the train to London for the FA Cup final. I also shared a train with Potato Head Bruce from Bham Int'l to Euston on a weekday morning during pre season, 3 or 4 years ago.

[paul_e]

I can understand getting the train from Ipswich in particular, it's not quite as bad as Norwich but it's still a shitty place to travel to/from by car.

[jonzy85]

No doubt about it, that Nzogbia has been a disappointment. I won't shed any tears if he goes.

Having said that, he clearly is a talented player and as average as he has been, he has still chipped in with some crucial goal and assists. I think he is worth persevering with for another season, especially after paying what we did for him. I also have a horrible feeling that he will go elsewhere, score 10+ goals, numerous assists and put in 2 man of the match displays against us.

[Percy McCarthy]

Footballers are the only fuckers who can afford to get trains.

[neo_Villan]

N'Zogbia just isn't a Lambert player really. Never guarenteed to give his all every game. I wouldn't be too upset if he stayed as he has something to offer but I would rather he was sold TBH.

[Lastfootstamper]

I'm also not sure why so many people think N'Zogbia will go. He was  playing pretty regularly still, and contributing vital goals and assists. There's plenty of players further behind in the pecking order. And Lambert talked about how well he'd been playing.

I think Lambert would ideally like to play the 4231 and thinks N'Zogbia can be a menace in that role. But it just leaves our full backs and centre midfielders so much more exposed compared to the 433.

Agree with this bit. Whoever is eventually settled upon to play that position, their contribution when we're off the ball needs to be as telling as that on it. I'm not necessarily saying box-to-box, but at least back to the halfway line, stopping defenders carrying the ball out, eliminating the easy short ball into midfield, denying the opposition's deep midfielders time on the ball, that sort of donkey-work. And do it for ninety minutes.
We're a long way away from being a team capable of carrying a "number 10" that doesn't do this.
Imo, fwiw, with the global proliferation and uptake of mobile high-energy multi-functional midfields perhaps sounding the death knell for 442, such players' days are numbered.

[Concrete John]

I think N'Zog is best as a big fish in a small pond, where the side is built around him, as it was at Wigan.  He struggles to adapt his game to fit in with better players around him.  Undoubtedly talented, but will only ever be a super-sub/cameo player at a club like ours.

[Steve R]

I do wonder if Albrighton would be better off re-inventing himself as a full back.

Interesting comment Steve I hadnt thought of that. Wasnt Gidman a winger at Liverpool before converting to full back?..What I dont understand re Albrighton is how he lost the albility to cross the ball accurately when he was doing  exactly that when he made the breakthrough into the first team.

I think Gidman was, yes. Kenny Swain arrived as a winger too. Looked a complete liability when Saunders first used him at right back. It worked out pretty well.

[OCD]

I can see N'Zogbia leaving if someone comes in for him. £60,000 a week for someone who only played the odd few minutes here and there in the run-in.

If we keep Albrighton, I think there's more chance of him moving into the middle as the one-off the striker in the 4-2-3-1 formation than playing at right back.

[Lastfootstamper]

I do wonder if Albrighton would be better off re-inventing himself as a full back.

Interesting comment Steve I hadnt thought of that. Wasnt Gidman a winger at Liverpool before converting to full back?..What I dont understand re Albrighton is how he lost the albility to cross the ball accurately when he was doing  exactly that when he made the breakthrough into the first team.

I think Gidman was, yes. Kenny Swain arrived as a winger too. Looked a complete liability when Saunders first used him at right back. It worked out pretty well.

I'm fairly certain Colin Gibson started out as a winger, too. Can't recall if he ever played for the first team as one, though.

[Monty]

In fairness, for all the weaknesses Albrighton has going forward, they are nothing when compared to his defensive deficiencies.

[Clampy]

In fairness, for all the weaknesses Albrighton has going forward, they are nothing when compared to his defensive deficiencies.

I don't mind Albrighton. I think he deserves another crack at it here. At least he attempts to put a cross into the box, unlike N'Zogbia who attempts to run into two players and succeeds.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Nothing wrong with Albrighton for me. Good young player and in a position we're completely understaffed in

[OCD]

He needs to stay fit and get back to (and stay or improve on) the sort of form he showed when he fast came into the team

[PGW]

Alex O'Henley ‏@OHenleyAlex 5m
My sources in Poland tell me that Aleksandar Tonev is close to joining Aston Villa and will fly to Birmingham tomorrow for a medical

sorry if already posted just got emailed from a celtic fan

Not Dimitri by any chance?

Has this plane landed yet??