Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[PeterWithesShin]

Seems legit. Must be ITK otherwise he wouldn't be a Villa agent.

[Toronto Villa]

Well that seals that then. Superb news. Well done Mr Aston Villa Agent.

On a separate note, having thought about it, tossed and turned at night and agreed with a lot of the ill feeling towards Barry, I'd give him another shot. He's not Downing. He gave a lot during his time at the club, is mates with and has influenced many of the players still at the club, and is close to Petrov. I think to engpd his career, for a season or two he'd be a great steadying factor to some of the kids at the club. I haven't forgotten the Liverpool bollocks but I can forgive if he can help the current cause.

[eamonn]

AVFCAgent wouldn't be a bellend about Belhanda, would he?

[Phil from the upper holte]

Any body think that Belhanda still might end up at Villa.? Lots of rumours going around.

Where?

Sky Sports sources and Twitter. Which are the same thing.

Can't argue with "sky's sources"

[Tayls_7]

I felt ok about the previous budget signings but if the Belhanda link is accurate and we are splashing the big bucks does it increase the possibility that Bentekkers could head out?

[ozzjim]

I felt ok about the previous budget signings but if the Belhanda link is accurate and we are splashing the big bucks does it increase the possibility that Bentekkers could head out?

I think there is more chance of Tekkers signing a 10 year deal and pledging his career to us than us spending 12.5 million on Belhanda.

[Tayls_7]

I felt ok about the previous budget signings but if the Belhanda link is accurate and we are splashing the big bucks does it increase the possibility that Bentekkers could head out?

I think there is more chance of Tekkers signing a 10 year deal and pledging his career to us than us spending 12.5 million on Belhanda.

Really Ozz? Why so adamant? Are you basing that on our current policy or have I missed something? It does seem unlikely given the players we have brought in; Bakuna and Tonev. Unless we are playing hardball we'd have recruited him by now if we wanted him surely? Shame as looks a quality player.

[LeeB]

I felt ok about the previous budget signings but if the Belhanda link is accurate and we are splashing the big bucks does it increase the possibility that Bentekkers could head out?

I think there is more chance of Tekkers signing a 10 year deal and pledging his career to us than us spending 12.5 million on Belhanda.

Really Ozz? Why so adamant? Are you basing that on our current policy or have I missed something? It does seem unlikely given the players we have brought in; Bakuna and Tonev. Unless we are playing hardball we'd have recruited him by now if we wanted him surely? Shame as looks a quality player.

I tend to think, as someone else pointed out on here recently, that we're looking for the likes of Belhanda before they become £12m players.

[ozzjim]

We were linked and reportedly in for all those we have signed with their local press before the press here got wind of it. We said nothing or confirmed it. Belhanda however, the local press were all informed by Villa that there was no interest at all.

[ROBBO]

Barry had his critics before he left, too slow, can't chase back and the most telling not a good Captain, far too quiet on the pitch. No way will Lambert consider him.

[Dante Lavelli]

Any body think that Belhanda still might end up at Villa.? Lots of rumours going around.

I can't decide, I can see how he'd fit the system we play and I think he'd be excellent so I understand the link, I also think the money for the fee and wages is fine, but I think Bacuna is a similar player so I'm not sure anymore.  I hope so though, I think he'd be an exciting player to fill the role we tried to give to nzogbia.

As a bit of a tactical guru Paul e, I'm interested to hear how you think he'd fit in the system?
For me he looks a Number 10 which would mean a change to 4231.  Would you play him in one of the Gabby/Weimann roles?

[damon loves JT]

I wouldn't be surprised if we spent £12 million on a player. But I would be surprised if that player were Belhanda, given that lambert has already ruled him out

[paul_e]

Any body think that Belhanda still might end up at Villa.? Lots of rumours going around.

I can't decide, I can see how he'd fit the system we play and I think he'd be excellent so I understand the link, I also think the money for the fee and wages is fine, but I think Bacuna is a similar player so I'm not sure anymore.  I hope so though, I think he'd be an exciting player to fill the role we tried to give to nzogbia.

As a bit of a tactical guru Paul e, I'm interested to hear how you think he'd fit in the system?
For me he looks a Number 10 which would mean a change to 4231.  Would you play him in one of the Gabby/Weimann roles?

No he would be a central midfielder, from what i've seen he's got the work rate you want to be given the attacking role in a 3 (how we played Nzogbia in front of Westwood and Delph).  The main reason Sylla for Nzogbia worked is that Sylla closed up the space in midfield, often playing ahead of the other 2 when we were defending, but I don't think he has the goal threat to be a permanent solution there, I think Belhanda would score plenty from midfield for us, without him we're pinning our hopes on 1 of 3 things happening:

Delph finds his scoring boots
Gardner makes the step up and becomes a mainstay in the side in the space of a couple of weeks
Bacuna settles quickly and is the type of player we're hoping him to be (I think he is but he needs time)

If we're going to sign one proven player I think this is the most important position to do it in, some people will say we need a defender but I think our defensive problems last year were as much down to our midfield as anything else.  We were particularly poor in dealing with players in a 'deep lying playmaker' role, Luiz in that game at chelsea, rooney (oddly) in the Man U game (where RVP scored his offside goal of the season).  It's because our setup needs us to be fighting for the ball higher up the pitch, we have no ocver for our fullbacks, we can't give them an easy time getting their fullbacks forward and hitting them with crossfield passes.  If their fullbacks do break forward we need to try to win it at source so Gabby and Weimann can exploit that space out wide.

[danlanza]

Daily Star is touting Benteke to Spurs..... again.
And i really don't see this Belhanda thing being a runner.

[Concrete John]

I wouldn't be surprised if we spent £12 million on a player. But I would be surprised if that player were Belhanda, given that lambert has already ruled him out

Pretty much the way I see it, too.

As we shift more of the higher earners off I think it becomes more likely.  I also think Randy will back Lambert's judgement if he thinks a player is worth going that extra yard for.

The only thing I can see where such a deal may fall down if with Lambert himself, where he may doubt it's value for money and he could get a £6m player that would give us the same contribution.