Summer 2013: Villa Transfers, Speculation, Suggestions and Rumours

[Monty]

I think the main reason, to be honest, is probably not the addiction to the 24-and-under policy - if you offered Lambo Yaya Toure I'm sure he'd have him in a second - but more the way he sees us playing. The other day he was going on and on about intensity and having 'legs' in the side. Barry is many things, but dynamic he ain't.

[JUAN PABLO]

Barry or KEA ? no brainer .   

[JUAN PABLO]

He would also probably be a better defender than most of ours as well.

[Richard E]

Any remote wish to have Barry back disappeared after his "running through treacle" attempt at tracking back for one of the Germany goals at the last World Cup...

[oldtimernow]

Any remote wish to have Barry back disappeared after his "running through treacle" attempt at tracking back for one of the Germany goals at the last World Cup...

agree with this.......now if it was Milly they were offering

[eamonn]

Milly's left us twice. Fuck him. We, and Egg, deserve better.

[Concrete John]

Barry on loan would be a short term fix and I think it's clear Lambert's transfer policy is about the long term. 

[TheSandman]

Milly's left us twice. Fuck him. We, and Egg, deserve better.

+1. Why are so many people keen to live in the past when the future has so much promise?

I've never rated Barry as an outright defensive midfielder, so think it is more likely to be Westwood he'd displace and you'd have to be crackers to do that. I don't rate KEA as an outright defensive midfielder either, but that's by the by as I'd prefer Sylla to play that role.

[saunders_heroes]

I'd take back Barry but not on loan. It would be good to have a bit of experience in the team. It should be a permenant deal, or no deal. No more loans at Villa.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Barry was brilliant for us but he's part of our past and we need to build on what we have.
I'd also like to see Sylla playing that DM role which might free Westy up a bit to go forward.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I don't think we need Barry either. Only ex Villa Player I am interested is James Milner and no other ex Villa Player is good enough for our team (Currently playing). The fact is only one player I am interested is a damning sign of poor quality we buy over last decade. 

[rob_bridge]

Barry was brilliant for us but he's part of our past and we need to build on what we have.
I'd also like to see Sylla playing that DM role which might free Westy up a bit to go forward.

Agree with all of that.

Like others I would have Milner back to add energy but only he came back on less than half his wages, which he won't so it's irrelevant.

[glasses]

I don't think we need Barry either. Only ex Villa Player I am interested is James Milner and no other ex Villa Player is good enough for our team (Currently playing). The fact is only one player I am interested is a damning sign of poor quality we buy over last decade. 

Or just that over the last decade, players have got older than they were when we got the best out of them? Barry falls into that category. I still would have liked him in the squad for experience and options, but hey leave Lambert to it.

[paul_e]

If Barry was still the same player we sold he wouldn't be available so it's a no thanks from me.

[KevinGage]

If that's genuine, we've missed a trick there. 

In truth, I'm not on board with this 'young and hungry' mantra.   

Yes, the situation we had with players on large contracts not playing under MON was farcical.  But now it seems we've gone too far in the opposite direction.  Ideally what you want as far as team dynamic is concerned is one or two older heads (players who might be just past their best, but can still perform to a high standard) a few younger players who aren't the finished article but have the fight and desire to improve and players who are just about at their peak. 

Too many of any from those three categories can be ruinous.  Too many cynical, older players on big contracts can be bad for team morale and can sour the younger players coming through.   But too many young players leads to inconsistency, naivety in key moments of matches and poor results. 

For a club our size -one of the biggest clubs in the richest league in the world, lets not forget-  the bulk of our players should be that final category, as close to the finished article as possible. Villa Park is too big a stage to be learning the ropes. 

I could accept the idea that we're almost entirely focussed on players under the age of 24 If I believed it was for purely footballing reasons.  Unfortunately, I think it's far more to do with trying to get the wage bill down (still).  To make that the priority above all else is folly, and -barring miracles from Lambert- it could result in seasons like the last one being the norm, rather than the exception.