Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[eastie]

Having Carling is reason enough to stay sober.  As my daughter would say "eeyak, dont like it"

We can't all afford to drink Moët

But anyone can afford to drink old washing-up water, which is still better than Carling.

Whats your poison dave ?
Fairy or morning  fresh ?

[supertom]

Having Carling is reason enough to stay sober.  As my daughter would say "eeyak, dont like it"

We can't all afford to drink Moët

But anyone can afford to drink old washing-up water, which is still better than Carling.

Whats your poison dave ?
Fairy or morning  fresh ?

Asda Smart price.

[Matt Collins]

There's some strange suggestions on this thread for a replacement for benteke:

- there's no way Weimann can replace him in the same role, nor can bent
- papiss cisse is the same. His hold up play isn't good enough
- kiyotake etc are interesting options and we need a number 10, but we absolutely must have a proper number 9. It's very obvious lambert wants to play like that

Lukaku is the best option I've seen, but I don't know how realistic that is. Long is a much underrated player but i can't see that happening.

[Matt Collins]

Having read ten pages worth of the thread I conclude that none of you have better suggestions than the not very inspired list I and countless others have in their heads!

[mattjpa]

Bent got caught misbehaving. There is no way back for him.

[Dave]

but we absolutely must have a proper number 9. It's very obvious lambert wants to play like that

We have just signed a bloke who is 6ft 5 and plays up front. By all accounts he's not Duncan Ferguson, but then again neither is Benteke.

As for other names, I expect we'll be looking to continue our current MO. Looking for some of the top scorers of smaller European leagues looking for their next step before moving on again. So the likes of Yilmaz, Guidetti, Finnbogason, Ideye, Djebbour and Hosiner are probably the sort of thing we'd be considering.

[MoetVillan]

The way back for him was to make himself undroppable.  He hasnt made that on form, attitude or desire on the pitch for months.

[eastie]

Bent got caught misbehaving. There is no way back for him.

Caught misbehaving? Says who?

[Matt Collins]

but we absolutely must have a proper number 9. It's very obvious lambert wants to play like that

We have just signed a bloke who is 6ft 5 and plays up front. By all accounts he's not Duncan Ferguson, but then again neither is Benteke.

As for other names, I expect we'll be looking to continue our current MO. Looking for some of the top scorers of smaller European leagues looking for their next step before moving on again. So the likes of Yilmaz, Guidetti, Finnbogason, Ideye, Djebbour and Hosiner are probably the sort of thing we'd be considering.

I agree Helenius could step in, but I can't believe we'll start the season reliant on him being our main striker. He cost less than £2m.

I've only ever seen ideye of the names you provide and wasn't particularly impressed.

I think we're going to take a bit of time to find the right balance whoever we sign. It'd be miraculous if we signed someone as good as benteke. To replace his goals, we'll need more from midfield. A no 10 is the obvious answer, but that would mean as sacrificing the 3 in midfield that protected our full backs so much better than any other formation last season

[damon loves JT]

Leroy Fer seems always to attract interest without anybody taking the plunge.

We need to strike while the iron is hot

/crap pun

[claretandbeer]

There's some strange suggestions on this thread for a replacement for benteke:

- there's no way Weimann can replace him in the same role, nor can bent
- papiss cisse is the same. His hold up play isn't good enough
- kiyotake etc are interesting options and we need a number 10, but we absolutely must have a proper number 9. It's very obvious lambert wants to play like that

Lukaku is the best option I've seen, but I don't know how realistic that is. Long is a much underrated player but i can't see that happening.

Agree that Lukaku is the best option but if we don't get him,then we could spend £10m approx for someone who is no better than Weimann.Long holds up the ball better than but Weimann and Bent are better goalscorers. I know Weimann's goal ratio is not thatl brilliant if you look at the raw statistics,but he is young and will get better and his return from playing out wide and having to chase back was impressive and he can play 1-2's unlike Bent.Remember Benteke scored 19 goals and therefore we need someone with a goal threat. Weimann fits that bill and it's his natural position.A wide player with more skill than Weimann but with a similar work ethic would create extra goal chances and so would another high quality midfielder.We have to rebalance because it would be difficult to find another Benteke apart from Lukaku and I would take him on a season's loan because it would give Helenius extra time and we could still spend big to strengthen other areas.

[Dave]

but we absolutely must have a proper number 9. It's very obvious lambert wants to play like that

We have just signed a bloke who is 6ft 5 and plays up front. By all accounts he's not Duncan Ferguson, but then again neither is Benteke.

As for other names, I expect we'll be looking to continue our current MO. Looking for some of the top scorers of smaller European leagues looking for their next step before moving on again. So the likes of Yilmaz, Guidetti, Finnbogason, Ideye, Djebbour and Hosiner are probably the sort of thing we'd be considering.

I agree Helenius could step in, but I can't believe we'll start the season reliant on him being our main striker. He cost less than £2m.

I don't see that how much he cost matters too much. Cardiff spent £8m on Cornelius who scored two extra goals for a better team in the same league. If we'd just spent £7m on Helenius would you happier about him being our main striker?

I've not really watched any of the names on that list either, it's just some of the people who scored lots of goals in smaller leagues in the last couple of years. But I expect that it's people like them that we'll be looking at rather than the likes of Lukaku and Shane Long. Because that's how we seem to be doing things now.

[mattjpa]

Eastie - I heard from someone close to the first team, dont want to elaborate further but there is def no way back for him.....

[Matt Collins]

I don't agree that Weimann's natural position is where benteke has been playing at all. Lambert has said his best position is off the main striker, which I agree with and which is an option for some games.

On Helenius, I've never seen him play, so just taking the market value as an indication of the consensus on his quality. Obviously lambert thinks he's better than that, but it'd be a massive gamble to rely on him.

[eastie]

Eastie - I heard from someone close to the first team, dont want to elaborate further but there is def no way back for him.....

I hope he hasn't  wanked in lamberts porridge.