Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[pauliewalnuts]

Another way to look at is by taking negative scenarios e.g. say Vlaar is out for a lengthy period like the chunk of the season where we really suffered. If we lost someone like him, it would be a bigger blow than it would be if we had another organiser to come in.

That's the position it was most obvious in. It looked like we had a handful of CBs, all of whom would have looked totally composed alongside a more experienced, assertive CB, but none of whom, when combined with the others, were really convincing.

Like you said, Vlaar was the closest to it, but not close enough.

I am probably on about this more today because I watched the season review DVD this morning, and it was a reminder of just how abysmal our defending was last season.

It improved somewhat towards the end, but the run of avoiding clean sheets went right through to the end of the season, and we absolutely must not defend like that next year.

[TheSandman]

Out of curiosity, when people say they want an experienced player do they mean somebody who has premiership experience, or can it be someone who has experience playing at a high level that is not necessairily the PL? I think the latter is what is more likely. The problem is with PL players that even shit ones want decent money. I bet Sidwell, Shorey and NRC earned a decent amount more than most of our current players do and if we brought somebody like that in they would not be someone who brings in the quality we'd require. A player who can bring quality as well as experience would be that much more expensive. I'd expect an experienced player would be more like that Douglas Newcastle are linked with than Lescott.

[wozwebs]

Twitter: @SamuelDeCosta2: Aston Villa have made a tentative enquiry with West Ham about signing Mohamed Diame, their approach is likely to be rejected #AVFC #WHUFC

[DrGonzo]

Twitter: @SamuelDeCosta2: Aston Villa have made a tentative enquiry with West Ham about signing Mohamed Diame, their approach is likely to be rejected #AVFC #WHUFC

Who the fiddly feck is Samuel De Costa??  Never seen his name before...

[claretandbeer]

I actually think last year's lot would keep us up next season anyway, so I'm not too concerned, however I'm not sure we can be *that* confident that the squad has improved.

After last season you'd hope our expectations are to start climbing the table, which let's face it shouldn't be too much to ask for given the way the Premier League is now structured. You have your top 5 pretty much cemented in there. Then you have Liverpool and Everton hopelessly trying to play catch up, then the cannon fodder of everybody else including the promoted sides. I really can't see things changing this coming season.

What I hope and expect is for this season is for us to be pushing to join Liverpool and Everton. Everything else around us is just average at best. Poxy little clubs like the Baggies, Norwich, Stoke, Southampton, Fulham and West Ham. Whilst Newcastle and Sunderland could potentially kick on both clubs are led by idiots and are their own worst enemies.

8th place really should be a very realistic and easily achieved target. The only issue is how many points we will be behind 6th and 7th. If we can reduce it to a minimum, there's a great chance we can with a bit of luck pick up a cup or two. Right now with our current squad, I can only see us achieving 8th place but a huge distance between us and 7th.

Great summary of the league and our potential position,my only reservation would be that I can see Liverpool having a very good season.Our young players have come through the baptism of fire of a relegation fight and will be more experienced and physically more mature and buoyed by the second half of the season performances.
If we keep looking for value for money and to the future instead of vain costly statements of intent with our signings,then it will be possible  in the near future to bridge the huge gulf between us and the top 5 or 6.

[tomd2103]

I actually think last year's lot would keep us up next season anyway, so I'm not too concerned, however I'm not sure we can be *that* confident that the squad has improved.

After last season you'd hope our expectations are to start climbing the table, which let's face it shouldn't be too much to ask for given the way the Premier League is now structured. You have your top 5 pretty much cemented in there. Then you have Liverpool and Everton hopelessly trying to play catch up, then the cannon fodder of everybody else including the promoted sides. I really can't see things changing this coming season.

What I hope and expect is for this season is for us to be pushing to join Liverpool and Everton. Everything else around us is just average at best. Poxy little clubs like the Baggies, Norwich, Stoke, Southampton, Fulham and West Ham. Whilst Newcastle and Sunderland could potentially kick on both clubs are led by idiots and are their own worst enemies.

8th place really should be a very realistic and easily achieved target. The only issue is how many points we will be behind 6th and 7th. If we can reduce it to a minimum, there's a great chance we can with a bit of luck pick up a cup or two. Right now with our current squad, I can only see us achieving 8th place but a huge distance between us and 7th.

Great summary of the league and our potential position,my only reservation would be that I can see Liverpool having a very good season.Our young players have come through the baptism of fire of a relegation fight and will be more experienced and physically more mature and buoyed by the second half of the season performances.
If we keep looking for value for money and to the future instead of vain costly statements of intent with our signings,then it will be possible  in the near future to bridge the huge gulf between us and the top 5 or 6.

I don't see Everton being as strong as they have been in the past few seasons now Moyes has gone.  Martinez is going to need time to settle and I can see them struggling, especially if some of their better players move on this summer.

[Toronto Villa]

Twitter: @SamuelDeCosta2: Aston Villa have made a tentative enquiry with West Ham about signing Mohamed Diame, their approach is likely to be rejected #AVFC #WHUFC

Who the fiddly feck is Samuel De Costa??  Never seen his name before...

A brand new ITK no doubt. They grow them in fields of pods as part of the Twitter Matrix.

[ozzjim]

Diame would be pretty much perfect to add to our midfield, but it is not happening on his wage.

We do need a right back cover, and a central midfielder though.

Beyond Westwood, Sylla and Delph we currently have Gardner, Bacuna, Bannan, KEA. I would want another player we know is going to perform on the same or better level than the starting 3. Only KEA fills me with confidence as I think he will kick on and improve next term. The others are total unknowns, and well.... Bannan.

[Matt Collins]

I am probably on about this more today because I watched the season review DVD this morning, and it was a reminder of just how abysmal our defending was last season.

It improved somewhat towards the end, but the run of avoiding clean sheets went right through to the end of the season, and we absolutely must not defend like that next year.

I watched quite a lot of highlights of the season on AVTV in recent weeks. You're absolutely right. Our defending was often absolutely hopeless. I mean really really bad. And I couldn't bring myself to watch the Chelsea, Spurs, Bradford or Wigan games either.

Vlaar's return to the side was crucial. I think we'd have gone down without him. But he wasn't always great. He has a nasty habit of misjudging flighted balls and ducking under them. Lowton's defendi ng often involved him getting too square on. Bennett was a disaster waiting to happen at times and Clark really went backwards.

So I think we need Okore if he lives up the hype. We need protection from midfield, which I think we get best with the 3 in there. And I'm hoping that a good summer of defensive drilling plus more experience should help.

You just do wonder whether Lambert's coaching set up is really focused on defensive shape etc.

[Dr Butler]

Twitter: @SamuelDeCosta2: Aston Villa have made a tentative enquiry with West Ham about signing Mohamed Diame, their approach is likely to be rejected #AVFC #WHUFC

unlikely to happen, but it would be great if it did as it would seriously piss off my we will be challenging for Europe this season West Ham neighbours....
there are 6 of them in our road ! 

UTV
The Doc

[Ads]

As a rule, I am generally against signing a player for one of the “top clubs”, they tend to have the wrong attitude due to the step down.

As for that "ITK" what utter genius. Make up a rumour and in the same 140 characters confirm that its not going to happen. When it doesn't come to fruition, claim credit for this enlightened state of knowledge. 

[Malandro]

Daily express have us as completing on the Luna deal today

[Eckybloke]

I have a feeling, from the performances towards the end of the season that Westwood is the one that PL is looking to take up the calming Stan-type role.

Hopefully.

Maybe!

[Mister E]

Out of curiosity, when people say they want an experienced player do they mean somebody who has premiership experience, or can it be someone who has experience playing at a high level that is not necessairily the PL? I think the latter is what is more likely. The problem is with PL players that even shit ones want decent money. I bet Sidwell, Shorey and NRC earned a decent amount more than most of our current players do and if we brought somebody like that in they would not be someone who brings in the quality we'd require. A player who can bring quality as well as experience would be that much more expensive. I'd expect an experienced player would be more like that Douglas Newcastle are linked with than Lescott.

I'm still hoping that KEA's second season will show us a far more talented player who can bring his experience to bear than last season.

[Damo70]

I am optimistically hoping for more from KEA and Vlaar this season. People talk about the youngsters missing Vlaar's experience alongside them when he was out but he could also have done with some PL experience alongside him at times. Same with KEA. If it wasn't for illness and injury, Petrov and Dunne may still have been moved on this summer when their contracts ran out, but they would have made a huge difference last season.