Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[Concrete John]

I think it's make or break season for KEA.  He needs to make a significant impact and contribution during 13/14 otherwise I can see him being moved on next summer. 

[john e]

probably been mentioned before
but the amount of signings we have already bought in, would this explain the reluctance in the summer ?

some if not all of these players must have been in the pipe line you would have thought, so Lambert must have really gambled the lot on us staying in the prem league

he's make a great poker player

[Small Rodent]

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?

Not exactly "experience" as a hell of a lot of experienced players are crap. But a player experienced at being a calming and stabilising influence in a game.

[OCD]

It doesn't need to be Premier League experience for me. Take the example of when we signed Martin Laursen. He was a Milan player with a lot of experience in the Serie A who had lost his place in a Champions League winning team. He was still hungry to prove himself in the PL but had both domestic and International experience. He was also an organiser and a leader. Shame about his injury problems but he was a top signing.

The counter argument is that we've attracted someone of Okore's reputation on the promise of first team football where he would get his experience. If we did sign someone in the Laursen mould, he and Vlaar would be the first choice pairing and Okore wouldn't get his experience. So it's a tough issue. I suspect we're done in the central defence and have to get the young players as much experience and protection (i.e. the 3 man central midfield with the right personnel) as we can, as quickly as we can.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Sunderland have nothing but Premier League experience and they're shit.

[PaulWinch again]

It's not about Premier League experience, it's about footballing experience. A quality 25-30 year from the continent can add experience, they don't need have played in the Premier League.

[Concrete John]

Sunderland have nothing but Premier League experience and they're shit.

Experience without ability can be just as much a problem as ability without experience.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

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.

I think it's make or break for both this season. I'm still to be convinced Vlaar is good enough or strong enough to lead our defence.

As for KEA, he's looked a shadow of the player we saw in Holland. There he was breaking forward with pace, threading through killer balls, tracking back and generally running the midfield like he owned it. So far at Villa Park he's looked like a tidy version of Ray Wilkins, everything very short and simple but nothing to give the opposition anything to worry about. He may be playing to Lambert's instructions but I'm convinced he's got a lot more to offer and if he wants a first team place he'll have to start showing it.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Sunderland have nothing but Premier League experience and they're shit.

Experience without ability can be just as much a problem as ability without experience.

I think that point is key. Cuellar has a lot of prem experience but his ability is poor. A young unexperienced player with a lot of ability would improve the side by learning from his mistakes and then his ability will improve the quality of his team ......

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't think anyone would be in favour of signing players who are experienced but also shit.

[Concrete John]

I don't think anyone would be in favour of signing players who are experienced but also shit.

Would this be an appropriate moment for an MON joke?

[Dante Lavelli]

I don't think anyone would be in favour of signing players who are experienced but also shit.

You've got to admit its a tricky balance though as experienced players that are also good are naturally very expensive.  Because of our finances there will always be an obvious "defect" in who we sign whether that is a lack of experience, quality, sell on value, relability or just value for money.

Which variable would you suggest can be compromised in order to add some experience?

[Duncan Shaw]

I don't think anyone would be in favour of signing players who are experienced but also shit.

Would this be an appropriate moment for an MON joke?

Well I see Brucey is signing Curtis Davies!

[manic-road]

I don't think anyone would be in favour of signing players who are experienced but also shit.

Would this be an appropriate moment for an MON joke?

Well I see Brucey is signing Curtis Davies!

Surprised he hasn't gone for Titus Bramble

[OCD]

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.

I think it's make or break for both this season. I'm still to be convinced Vlaar is good enough or strong enough to lead our defence.

As for KEA, he's looked a shadow of the player we saw in Holland. There he was breaking forward with pace, threading through killer balls, tracking back and generally running the midfield like he owned it. So far at Villa Park he's looked like a tidy version of Ray Wilkins, everything very short and simple but nothing to give the opposition anything to worry about. He may be playing to Lambert's instructions but I'm convinced he's got a lot more to offer and if he wants a first team place he'll have to start showing it.

Bit like Petrov in his first 1 and a half seasons then.