Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[Keeno]

Like someone said earlier, Maloney on deadline day for 2m as a stop gap wouldn't be a disaster, although it wouldn't be great either; particularly as I thought we played better last season with a stronger midfield 3 rather than a double pivot and No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1. Hopefully though with Westy and Delph/Sylla getting more experienced we could be more comfortable with moving to that system... but if not Maloney, who would we be looking to bring in as that playmaker in the middle of Gabby/Weimann/Benteke?

[supertom]

Never understand the fuss with Rodwell. He's one of a slew of younger English footballers over the last few years who's apparently the "next Gerrard" only he's not actually that good. His attributes are average, he doesn't score goals. Really don't get him. I cannot distinguish him from Henderson. Both had huge fees from doing little more than okay at their previous clubs. It's just how barmy the transfer business is regarding English premier league talent. Milners much better than both of them, but he's nowhere near a 26 million pound player either.

[Percy McCarthy]

Hearing rumours about Rodwell coming to AV,sounds to good to be true,anyone else heard anything ?

Hope not, he's always injured, was cack at Villa Park this year and probably on a fortune in wages.

Yeah, Man City were crap at VP til he went off injured.

[Concrete John]

I like Rodwell as a player, but we'd only be loaning him I reckon and that would mean developing a Man City kid ahead of the likes of Westwood or Sylla.  Makes no sense to me.

[citizenDJ]

I think Rodwell is pretty good, he's comfortable on the ball and has plenty of energy as a box-to-box player, but as Concrete John says, I don't think a loan would be much use, really. If we were buying him, though, I'd say it'd be a good bit of business.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think - in theory - he'd be a good fit along side Delph and Westwood.
I say in theory as I have only seen him play a hand full of games.  If the price reflected his injury record then I'd take a punt as him missing games would allow Sylla and Bacuna to play some games.

[bobdylan]

Good player, can also play centre half.

[paul_e]

I don't like the idea of loans unless you set a fee to make it permanent upfront.  I also don't think Rodwell is what we need.

Also a lot of people have mentioned we were better playing a flat 3 but we didn't, we played 2 and 1 in front, with Delph and Sylla exchanging the forward role, Sylla being the more regular occupant.  Defensively his job was to close down the ball and not give the opposition 'deep lying playmaker' the room to dictate play.  A player more suited to the role in an attacking sense but who is still willing to put in the leg work defensively is what we need.

The only young English option who fits the bill is Will Hughes - Youtube vid, who is a far better player than Henderson or Rodwell were before their moves, he wouldn't be cheap (£12-15m from what I've seen on the internet) but he's a special talent and whoever takes the risk on him will have a great player on their hands.

[MoetVillan]

the last "high risk injury" player we loaned was jenas.  That didnt work out well.  Pretty confident on betting that Rodwell doesnt arrive

[Dante Lavelli]

The only young English option who fits the bill is Will Hughes - Youtube vid, who is a far better player than Henderson or Rodwell were before their moves, he wouldn't be cheap (£12-15m from what I've seen on the internet) but he's a special talent and whoever takes the risk on him will have a great player on their hands.

We should offer Hutton, Bannan and the Fonz plus a season long loan of Donacien.  I could see us continuing to pay the wages of the bomb squad members but if the fee dropped to say £7m it could be worth it for all parties. 

[Mazrim]

I would be delighted with Rodwell but has has been said, not on loan. His injury record is a concern but I doubt there's anything to this anyway. All things being equal though, definitely the sort of player for us.

[Dave]

I don't see why Man City would sell for a price that we'd look to pay, considering they bought him for £15m less than a year ago.

[Mazrim]

Maybe, but they can afford to write off pretty much anything if a player isn't in this years manager's plans.
Besides, Villa could pay a decent fee or him. Not £15m maybe but significant.

[JUAN PABLO]

Just been to Torquay / Dartmouth for ten days . So had quick look at the football gossip in the papers.

This I enjoyed.

Joe Kinnear is determined to make Newcastle a Champions League club.

Joe Kinnear has made a move to bring unwanted Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley to Newcastle.

[Dave]

They can, but I don't see why they would.