Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[UK Redsox]

In the words of Jim Morrison 'He's a back door man'.

Five-to-one that he turns up ?

[Miguelito]

Ciaran Clark signing a new deal given the BREAKING NEWS!!!111!!!! treatment on SSN.

Not much happening today, then.

Surprised by this, how long did he have left on his old contract?

[paul_e]

Ciaran Clark signing a new deal given the BREAKING NEWS!!!111!!!! treatment on SSN.

Not much happening today, then.

Surprised by this, how long did he have left on his old contract?

another year I think, fairly sure he signed a 4 year deal when Houllier was here.

[JUAN PABLO]

If TSM was still here . Maybe Spearing would be a signing , thats how depressing it was.


Not any more      



shit like Spearing is not going to happen .     Let Small heath have him.

[Chris Jameson]

I thought he was signing/had signed for Real Madrid. Or Bolton, yes, that's it Bolton. Get them confused, they both wear white.

[Merv]

I was thinking about the arrogance that Liverpool have re their cast offs (although Spurs are even worse) when someone mentioned on here the other day the way they'd make shit offers for Barry which usually consisted of not enough cash, plus Steve Finnan.

I'd totally forgotten about that.

Me too.

'£10m plus Finnan.'

No.

'£11m plus Finnan.'

No.

'£11.5m plus Finnan'.

No. And so on. What a dreadful summer that was. Still, at least Liverpool actually made bids, whereas Spurs seem to be thinking about making one, and nothing more than that.

[curiousorange]

I was looking through some of my old articles recently and a load of them were from that summer 2008 period. I wrote this one about the protracted Gareth Barry saga:

Why can't all transfer deals go as smoothly as this?

Can we have a whip round and get some players transferred, please? This has been the longest, most drawn out, tedious load of bobbins close-season since football was first invented. It's been dominated by Big Four transfers, which we always knew it would be, but why the hell have they decided to be come so thrifty all of a sudden?

I know there's a credit crunch. I know an individual grain of rice now costs 76p. I know all footballers are worried about the plight of Zimbabwe, but dammit, can't we be a bit more selfish? I'm actually running a marathon in a couple of days, from the centre of New York to a point twenty-six miles outside New York. Not because there's an event on. Just because I'm being sponsored. I'm going to give the money to Rafa Benitez, so he can finally buy a player instead of window shopping. He's like those annoying people who come into shops or libraries, make you get everything off the shelves, umms-and-aahs and then decides he's supposed to be cutting back this month. You're only supposed to be boycotting the cream doughnuts, Rafa!

I'm sick of long, drawn-out transfer deals. Clubs are squabbling over pocket change like two kids fronting in the playground. They were usually the blockheaded ones who couldn't listen to reason. Then there were the weedy mates at the sides, snickering and chucking in random insults, safe in the knowledge that while they encourage the fight, they won't have to get involved. They go on to become football agents.

It's simple. I am sending the FA a flow chart of the perfect transfer deal. It begins:

Have you picked up telephone receiver? Y/N. If Y, then dial player's club. If N, pick up telephone or nobody will be able to hear you.

Has anybody answered? Y/N. If Y, say 'I would like to buy insert player's name here. Is he for sale?'. If N, hang up phone and dial again, while messing with Newton's cradle in club colours while sighing occasionally.

Is player for sale? Y/N. If Y, say 'Very well. How much would you like for insert player's name here?' If N, say 'I'm sorry I wasted your time. I promise you will never hear from me again over this matter.' Under no circumstances phone The Sun and tell them that the player cold-called you and sobbed about how he really wants to move to your club.

Have you been given a monetary figure? Y/N. If Y, say 'I will have to speak to my chairman. Thank you very much.' Hang up telephone. Under no circumstances shout 'Eighteen million for an overweight Welshman with a gimpy leg and a trial for sexual harrassment coming up!? You must be Radio Rental!' If N, hang up telephone. Transfer deal officially over. DO NOT RING AGAIN. Visit Beatles Experience now you have a spare afternoon.

Speak to chairman. Does he agree with the valuation? Y/N. If Y, ask him to submit a formal bid and contact his lawyers to finalise paperwork. Breathe sigh of relief. If N, do not ask chairman to go outside to public telephone box, shanghai first available teenager into phoning a tabloid, and get him to make up a story not even Jeffrey Archer would find convincing.

Has player signed for your club? Y/N. If Y, pose awkwardly behind player with club scarf and wait until the cameras have gone before lighting up biggest cigar in history. If N, it is not acceptable to be photographed at endless press conferences with an enigmatic but unmistakably smug grin in the sure knowledge that player will now be at loggerheads with his current manager, team-mates and board.

If all transfers followed that system, we'd be set for an exciting summer. I might try and solve world hunger next.

[itbrvilla]

As nice as it is to have some unknowns come in where we have no idea what to expect, I really think the squad will struggle again if we don't get more experience  and senior players in. 

[Percy McCarthy]

Jay Spearing is like Kevin Nolan minus the goals. Or Stephen Hawking without the brains.

[JR89]

Benteke did train today:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2368437/Christian-Benteke-arrives-Aston-Villa-training.html

[Quiet Lion]

Jay Spearing is like Kevin Nolan minus the goals. Or Stephen Hawking without the brains.

I would prefer Hawking in midfield to Spearing

[villa kicks]

Well there are reports Liverpool have agreed to sell home-grown star Jay Spearing to Blackburn Rovers £1.5million deal.

Boss Brendan Rodgers will let midfield dynamo Spearing leave and the Kop have struck a payment plan with Rovers.

Which ahve sparked these interesting comments on liverpool forum

"He can do better than Blackburn"

"He was Bolton's player of the season. Surely that's earnt him a gig at a higher level."

"Why aren't Bolton signing him?
Just been their best player. Young cheap and English. No risk for them.
I hope he gets picked up by a lower Prem team.
Would be great at Villa or Sunderland. "

"Was good at some games and was bad at some games.. Consistency was his huge issue and also the heavy weight of expectation to perform well as a local lad.. "

"He's a good Championship player, but he's never likely to be a good Premiership player, even if he could hold his own at a Norwich or Fulham."

"I think he's massively underrated by the football community, was class in some european games in defensive mid and proved he can hold his own at the top level. Whoever signs him I think will be getting a bargain."

"Hope the fact it is out there we will take 1.5 will alert other clubs and Spearing ends up somewhere better."


And some other things to note he played cameo against real madrid in champions league 4-0 drubbing. Hes played in FA CUP final

Dalgleish rated him and he has a wealth of football knowledge


and like liverpool fans have said Spearing is talented, passionate and can put older players (who liverpool paid 5-10 million for) to shame!!! he would do the same if he came to Villa !!

[supertom]

Jay Spearing is like Kevin Nolan minus the goals. Or Stephen Hawking without the brains.

I would prefer Hawking in midfield to Spearing

Me too. Apparently he has a great engine and is good at finding space.

[damon loves JT]

I think we should sign Jens Caspersen, if we're talking about Liverpool players. He never gets a game but he's always seemed handy enough.

Obviously he's no Andrew Greaves - who is? - but could be worth a punt.

Don't know what you others think.

[pauliewalnuts]

Jay Spearing is like Kevin Nolan minus the goals. Or Stephen Hawking without the brains.

I would prefer Hawking in midfield to Spearing

Me too. Apparently he has a great engine and is good at finding space.

For weeks on end he disappears into a black hole, though, like Barry used to.