Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[Olneythelonely]

Centre half isn't he?

[ozzjim]

Ozzjim, is he a wide player, I am honestly not sure? If so, aint we got three of the new signings who can play there?

He is a very quick wide player.

Bacuna is essentially a centre mid, Tonev and Helenius can play across the front. Having a pur pace option if Gabby and Nzogbia are out is worth it. Might mean curtains for Albrighton though.

[tomd2103]

Ozzjim, is he a wide player, I am honestly not sure? If so, aint we got three of the new signings who can play there?

He is a very quick wide player.

Bacuna is essentially a centre mid, Tonev and Helenius can play across the front. Having a pur pace option if Gabby and Nzogbia are out is worth it. Might mean curtains for Albrighton though.

Yeah that's him.  He gave Joe Bennett a torrid time at our place last season and I'm sure it was a foul on him that got JB sent off.   

[villan from luton]

ozzyjim, cheers for that, read an article with the oromondroyd dane saying he can play wide and has pace, but likes to play in the hole (wouldnt we all). Saw the clips of ALL Bacuna's goals earlier, some of which were set pieces, others could have been Ian Yaylor (I hope). Aint got  a clue re Tonev. As for Bennett, if Lambert wants him, he must know he will fit into the system

[tomd2103]

ozzyjim, cheers for that, read an article with the oromondroyd dane saying he can play wide and has pace, but likes to play in the hole (wouldnt we all). Saw the clips of ALL Bacuna's goals earlier, some of which were set pieces, others could have been Ian Yaylor (I hope). Aint got  a clue re Tonev. As for Bennett, if Lambert wants him, he must know he will fit into the system

Looks like he could be ideal to play in the sort of role Sylla played towards the end of last season.

[villan from luton]

You may be right tom2103, though little clips can disguise things. The impression is he is a hard working box to box player who can compete for a place. What is Tonev's best position? The Dane likes playing behind the striker, same role as earlier, good competition for places up there

[eamonn]

We're going to have to volunteer to enter the Europa League and Birmingham Senior Cup to give all these players game time.

[villan from luton]

you had a feeling in 1972 Eamonn, I had one a little less recently

[gervilla]

Ozzjim, is he a wide player, I am honestly not sure? If so, aint we got three of the new signings who can play there?

He is a very quick wide player.

Bacuna is essentially a centre mid, Tonev and Helenius can play across the front. Having a pur pace option if Gabby and Nzogbia are out is worth it. Might mean curtains for Albrighton though.

Yeah that's him.  He gave Joe Bennett a torrid time at our place last season and I'm sure it was a foul on him that got JB sent off.   

I'm pretty sure Joe's first yellow was for hacking him down as well.

[ozzjim]

I see the mail are running that we have to pay £4 million to see Bent, Ireland and Given out the door.


Something Given strenuously denied 2 weeks ago. But why let that stand in the way of making something up.


Bent and Ireland probably, although even Bent I think will go without the payout if the right club makes an offer.


Anyone else see us making a couple of late in the window loan signings? Someone like Rodwell would not surprise me at all.

[gervilla]

I couldn't see us signing Rodwell.
Wages would be one issue, his injury proneness would also be a worry.
Hopefully we would have learned from the Jermaine Jenas episode.

[villasjf]

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.

But is it the players faults entirely or the defensive coaching (if we do any)

[rob_bridge]

I couldn't see us signing Rodwell.
Wages would be one issue, his injury proneness would also be a worry.
Hopefully we would have learned from the Jermaine Jenas episode.

Yes he does have that Jenas / Dyer look about him

[villa kicks]

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.

But is it the players faults entirely or the defensive coaching (if we do any)

I dont like to be part of this blame culture. Really I say that not one defender or player can just blame the coaching when there have been several incidents of individual errors. The defense is one of the most important to get right. Constantly the younger players have been tested in their ability to tackle, in their  positioning and decisions making and anticipation. Improvement in these area can only come from football intelligence through coaching and playing experience as well as development. The players have to be taking  responsibility for their actions both individual and collective as thats what its all about. Go hiding and then problems occur

[Clampy]

When we lost at Norwich in TSM's last game, there was a Bennett playing for them who had a decent game out wide. It may be him.