Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[OCD]

Play benteke wide? Are you mad man? He's our best player and centre forward by a mile.

For the majority time, I agree. However, there are occasions where he can cause havoc by pulling out wide. The Stoke away game for example. They had 2 big centre backs up against him which was nullifying him quite effectively. Then he came out to the left so that he could cut in and Stoke didn't have a clue what to do. Benteke had the beating of their fullback and they didn't know whether to move a centre back out to the right and mess up their centre back pairing or just try to cope as best as they could.

[jonzy85]

I think the fact that we had a bid for Kiyotake turned down shows we are not done in the transfer market.

Our defence remains a big concern for me. Massive improvements needed all around, but I'm not sure if a central defence containing 2 of Clark, Baker, Vlaar will ever be anything more than a lower mid table defence. Hopefully Okore improves things, but I would have liked to have seen more improvements.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

I think the fact that we had a bid for Kiyotake turned down shows we are not done in the transfer market.

Our defence remains a big concern for me. Massive improvements needed all around, but I'm not sure if a central defence containing 2 of Clark, Baker, Vlaar will ever be anything more than a lower mid table defence. Hopefully Okore improves things, but I would have liked to have seen more improvements.

Maybe that's why we've also got Okore?

[warleyboy]

Yea, still have major concerns with our defense, and think everyone generally feels the same, but if I had the choice, I would still rather see a holding midfielder than a Centre Back.
I really hope that this is completed quickly, massive concerns with set pieces and leaky defense.
I know they are only pre season games, but surely we should be beating these teams and maybe keeping a few clean sheets.

Take a look at Arsenal, scored 7 goals in both there pre season games....

We face this bunch first !!!!!!!

[warleyboy]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/premier-league/8833217/villa-draw-with-wycombe

Wow, just seen the set piece for the second goal of Wycombe's, how bad was our defending, where were Vlaar and Clarke ?

[SoccerHQ]

Vlaar and Clark is not a good combo when we have to defend the high ball regularly really. We look more comfortable against the physical sides with Baker in there. I don't see a new CB being signed really, we have 4 which is generally what prem clubs go with.

Has to be an attacking midfielder to sign before the window. The middle 3 did well at the end of last season but we just lack goalscoring threat from that area.

[pauliewalnuts]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/premier-league/8833217/villa-draw-with-wycombe

Wow, just seen the set piece for the second goal of Wycombe's, how bad was our defending, where were Vlaar and Clarke ?

I know it's a pre-season friendly, and an early one at that, but that was a grim reminder of how we defended for much of last season.

Of all the partnerships we have, I think Vlaar - Clark is the worst.

[Mister E]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/premier-league/8833217/villa-draw-with-wycombe

Wow, just seen the set piece for the second goal of Wycombe's, how bad was our defending, where were Vlaar and Clarke ?

~Positives: great cross by Bacuna; sneaky free kick from Westie; away shirts.
The first WW goal looked like a deflection off Luna; the second was horrible - reminiscent of last season and the one before.

[supertom]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/premier-league/8833217/villa-draw-with-wycombe

Wow, just seen the set piece for the second goal of Wycombe's, how bad was our defending, where were Vlaar and Clarke ?

I know it's a pre-season friendly, and an early one at that, but that was a grim reminder of how we defended for much of last season.

Of all the partnerships we have, I think Vlaar - Clark is the worst.

I agree, and I don't put this wholly on Clark either. I think Clark-Baker is more effective than Clark-Vlaar. At present I'd go for Okore-Vlaar, or Vlaar-Baker if Okore is injured.

It won't happen but I'd love us to get a rock solid center half in. For me, Okore looks potentially fantastic. Vlaar has majorly underwhelmed. He's really got to step up to the plate this season. We're really lacking that Laursen/Mellberg figure. Hell even a Dunne in 09/10 would do us (and I'm not for a second saying we made a mistake letting him go. He's well past his best.)

[supertom]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/premier-league/8833217/villa-draw-with-wycombe

Wow, just seen the set piece for the second goal of Wycombe's, how bad was our defending, where were Vlaar and Clarke ?

~Positives: great cross by Bacuna; sneaky free kick from Westie; away shirts.
The first WW goal looked like a deflection off Luna; the second was horrible - reminiscent of last season and the one before.

We cannot defender against big players at set pieces. We get destroyed. My finger points a lot to Blamanche Ron, who isn't as dominant in the air as you'd expect someone made of "concrete" to be. Bakers our only good center half aerially besides (hopefully) Okore.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/premier-league/8833217/villa-draw-with-wycombe

Wow, just seen the set piece for the second goal of Wycombe's, how bad was our defending, where were Vlaar and Clarke ?

Totally agree. Dont think either is a first team starter. Surely PL can see this after some shocking defensive errors last season ? Okore will cover any pacy players. but we still need a major aerial ball winning CB. Baker is our strongest ........

I know it's a pre-season friendly, and an early one at that, but that was a grim reminder of how we defended for much of last season.

Of all the partnerships we have, I think Vlaar - Clark is the worst.

[warleyboy]

Jesus, the more I watch that clip, the more infuriated I get.
I'm right behind Lambo, but surely he can see our defensive frailties.

[ozzjim]

Would not be shocked to see Okore and Baker end next season as first choice and Ron be on the plane back to Holland. Great character and important to lead the side, but not been up to it defensively yet.

I still think a reserve right back and a tricky attacking midfielder will arrive before the deadline. I think we will go back in for Kiyotake personally. He fits a similar bill to Benteke last season, and would also give us a foothold into the football market there as an added bonus.

[paul_e]

Play benteke wide? Are you mad man? He's our best player and centre forward by a mile.

For the majority time, I agree. However, there are occasions where he can cause havoc by pulling out wide. The Stoke away game for example. They had 2 big centre backs up against him which was nullifying him quite effectively. Then he came out to the left so that he could cut in and Stoke didn't have a clue what to do. Benteke had the beating of their fullback and they didn't know whether to move a centre back out to the right and mess up their centre back pairing or just try to cope as best as they could.

To add a couple of pennies in here.  I mentioned this a few times last season.  When things started to really click up front was when Benteke started drifting left, between FB and CB, with Weimann pushing higher on the right in a similar hole, allowing Gabby to come in a '10' position and burst through the middle.  We did it a lot in the last 3 months.  It's a great way of using the 3 of them as both Gabby and Weimann are comfortable drifting inside and shooting from the edge of the box and no central defender will want to leave their fullback 1on1 with Benteke.  I think Tonev and Helenius will suit the cutting in and attacking from deeper part of it as well and I think I midfielder willing to get beyond the deeper 1 of the 3 could get a hatful.  Bacuna has stated a couple of times that he wants to be that kind of player which is why I think he will be the surprise player in the team next year.

[peter w]

Agree with all of that paul but what a team like that needs is a midfielder who can protect the back four. For all their faults last season, especially set-pieces, they were usually offered very little help and/or protection from midfield last season.