Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[tomd2103]

One or two experienced players wouldn't go amiss, especially in defence. Not sure I'd have too much faith in our defence again next season. I really hope Lambert and Lerner know what they're doing.

Don't know about that.  Think our defence wasn't that bad during the run in (though still prone to mistakes) and that Okore looks an upgrade on what we already have.

[paul_e]

One or two experienced players wouldn't go amiss, especially in defence. Not sure I'd have too much faith in our defence again next season. I really hope Lambert and Lerner know what they're doing.

Don't know about that.  Think our defence wasn't that bad during the run in (though still prone to mistakes) and that Okore looks an upgrade on what we already have.

I think blaming the defenders for our defensive record is a bit to simple (just go with me on this for a while) I see it as one of a number of issues, most of which can be handled within the squad.

We conceded from individual errors a lot, that's the inexperience in those areas.

We also conceded quite a few with 3-4 passes of having given the ball away - those are also inexperience, b ut not just from defenders but all over the pitch.

We throw both fullbacks forward a fair bit, so there are big gaps.  This is a tactical thing, to an extent it's tied in to giving the ball away cheaply (as above) but also just generally something we're going to have to live with if we want to see Lowton and Bennett/Luna bombing forward.

Now the more important one: in our setup we need to be winning the ball back high up the pitch.  When we've done that we look excellent.  but then we tire and the closing down becomes less evident and teams start to exploit the issues above.  We saw this a lot last year where we had a superb first half and then fell away in the 2nd half.

Hopefully a good pre-season with them all working hard on their fitness will help massively with the last one.  Having better competition in the squad will be a big plus as well.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Agree with all of that, Paul-e. Just to add, Lambert likes to play us very narrow which entices teams to go wide and put pressure on our full backs who are normally dealing with an advancing winger at the edge of our box.

Saying that, some of our defensive marking has been pathetic.

[jonzy85]

In the last third of the season, when we managed to turn things around (from the West Ham game onwards), we conceded 20 goals in 13 games. That is not too far off an average of almost 2 a game. We also kept zero clean sheets in this period.

So while the team as a whole improved in this period, I think it is fair to say that we were still defensively weak, even if we weren't as pathetic as over Christmas.

The 2 defenders we have signed look great prospects and I am looking forward to seeing them in action. However, I am not convinced that our transfer activity, thus far, has addressed our defensive frailties adequately.

[eastie]

Maybe 2 or 3 players to come i reckon but doubt anything will happen now until we see some departures from the squad.

I'd say one more midfielder , a versatile defender who can cover right back and maybe centre defence  and a keeper if shay goes.

[supertom]

Cut out silly unforced errors and stop giving away stupid free kicks. That will see our goals against stat looking a lot healthier next season. On our end of season form, I'd fancy us to score more than we concede throughout the season. I'd fancy that we've now got more goals in the side too with Tonev, Helenius and Bacuna. You'd fancy them all to chip in with more than Holman, Bannan, and N'Zogbia, and probably Bent who never suited being an impact player from the bench. Yeah start him 40 times and he'll get 15-20, but that won't happen with us.

[Doorbell]

"Southampton and Cardiff City are set to battle it out for the signature of Celtic's 21-year-old midfielder Victor Wanyama, who is valued at over £10m by his club."

We don't appear to be shopping in this market anymore but six months ago people were saying we'd have no chance of getting him, whereas based on who he's linked with I'd suggest we would. 

Is he much better than what we have?

Didn't he turn us down to go to Celtic?

[Toronto Villa]

"Southampton and Cardiff City are set to battle it out for the signature of Celtic's 21-year-old midfielder Victor Wanyama, who is valued at over £10m by his club."

We don't appear to be shopping in this market anymore but six months ago people were saying we'd have no chance of getting him, whereas based on who he's linked with I'd suggest we would. 

Is he much better than what we have?

Didn't he turn us down to go to Celtic?

We're shopping in the market where we are trying to get the same type and quality of player before his value soars to £10m

[OCD]

He's the right age, would be hungry to prove himself in the Premier League and he wouldn't be on massive wages at Celtic. He's looked good enough to have a good sell on value too. Getting him in either as competition for Westwood or to work alongside him when we want 2 defensive midfielders would work well.

We paid £7m for Benteke and Wanyama would fit more into that bracket so I wouldn't totally rule it out but it is unlikely. Now, if it was before he went to Celtic for £900k, we would have been all over him.

[supertom]

He's the right age, would be hungry to prove himself in the Premier League and he wouldn't be on massive wages at Celtic. He's looked good enough to have a good sell on value too. Getting him in either as competition for Westwood or to work alongside him when we want 2 defensive midfielders would work well.

We paid £7m for Benteke and Wanyama would fit more into that bracket so I wouldn't totally rule it out but it is unlikely. Now, if it was before he went to Celtic for £900k, we would have been all over him.

Maybe we'll get a signing of this ilk later in the window. I think the focus now will be on shifting as many players as we can. If we can raise 15-20 million, that'll be good. Shame about Zogbia because that could have been 4-5 mill and 50k on wages saved.

[Doorbell]

He's the right age, would be hungry to prove himself in the Premier League and he wouldn't be on massive wages at Celtic. He's looked good enough to have a good sell on value too. Getting him in either as competition for Westwood or to work alongside him when we want 2 defensive midfielders would work well.

We paid £7m for Benteke and Wanyama would fit more into that bracket so I wouldn't totally rule it out but it is unlikely. Now, if it was before he went to Celtic for £900k, we would have been all over him.

I'm pretty sure we were after him, and he turned us down to go to Celtic.

"Wanyama said he had rejected an approach from Aston Villa to move to Celtic Park and his performances for the Scottish champions have led to him being linked with other English Premier League clubs."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20097767

Should we have tried harder to get him in?!

[Steve R]

With NZogbia being out of the shop window, the for sale list is something like Ireland, Bent, Bannan, Stevens, Hutton, Delfouneso and Given. We will get nearer to £10 mill for that lot than 20. Which doesn't make much difference, the objective is to clear out big earning non players.

If we get rid of 5 or 6 we will be doing well but there should be plenty of room for more signings. As far as I can see the squad is light one central midfielder and one wide forward in addition to a goalkeeper if Given moves.

[OCD]

He's the right age, would be hungry to prove himself in the Premier League and he wouldn't be on massive wages at Celtic. He's looked good enough to have a good sell on value too. Getting him in either as competition for Westwood or to work alongside him when we want 2 defensive midfielders would work well.

We paid £7m for Benteke and Wanyama would fit more into that bracket so I wouldn't totally rule it out but it is unlikely. Now, if it was before he went to Celtic for £900k, we would have been all over him.

I'm pretty sure we were after him, and he turned us down to go to Celtic.

"Wanyama said he had rejected an approach from Aston Villa to move to Celtic Park and his performances for the Scottish champions have led to him being linked with other English Premier League clubs."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20097767

Should we have tried harder to get him in?!

I think McLeish was our manager at the time he chose to go to Celtic so I'm not sure you can blame him for his choice. Turning down a Premier League club in favour of playing regularly might have actually been a sensible decision. He might not have become the player he is today if McLeish had been his manager.

[mr underhill]

he would have become an anti-player to suit TSM's anti-football.

[rob_bridge]

he would have become an anti-player to suit TSM's anti-football.

He dodged a bullet there. He'd be on his way to the A League by now